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Tesco shuts city store after complaint about mice

Rachael LewisWest Midlands
News imageBBC A photo of a Tesco Express shop with green plastic sheets on the inside of the windows. BBC
Green plastic sheets have been put up to cover the inside of the shop

A Tesco Express store in Birmingham city centre has been shut for more than week as a "precautionary measure" after "evidence of mouse activity was identified".

Birmingham City Council said an officer had visited the Mailbox store on 9 October "following a complaint".

Despite no imminent risk being found to public health, a council spokesperson said: "Tesco chose to voluntarily close the premises while it addressed the issues."

Tesco said it is sorry for the inconvenience caused and added that it sets itself the highest store standards.

News imageA photo of a Tesco store with the doors shut. There are two blue signs on the front with white writing which says: "We're working to get things back to normal. We'll be closed while we sort things out. Please bear with us."
Signs first appeared last week saying "We're working to get things back to normal."

In a statement the council said: "Evidence of mice activity was identified but based on the findings at the time of inspection, it was determined that there was no imminent risk to public health and no emergency closure notice was served.

"Tesco chose to close the premises voluntarily while it addressed the issues."

A Tesco spokesperson did not give a date for when the store would re-open and said: "We set ourselves the highest store standards and have decided to temporarily close our Birmingham Mailbox Express store as a precautionary measure.

"We are sorry for the inconvenience caused, and are working hard to re-open as soon as possible."

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