Fish pedicure spas hurt by reports

Spas offering fish pedicures in the Black Country today faced an uncertain future after questions were raised over the safety of the treatment.

Bosses at Tootsies in Walsall fear they could be forced to close by Christmas after the number of customers dropped from 40 a day to just eight, with health warnings appearings in the media.

It's feared the treatment – which sees fish nibble away dead skin – can cause infections in people with sores or cuts to their feet.

Sharon O'Mara, who manages Tootsies in the Saddlers Centre, Walsall, has seen the number of customers drop from 40 on a normal Saturday to eight last week.

She said: "The story had a major effect on us, there's just nobody coming in any more besides our regulars. People walk past and shout that we are infectious. It's not nice."