Supermarket's mouse fine

A Wolverhampton supermarket has been fined £4,000 after environmental health officers found it was infested with mice.

Samra Supermarket in Dudley Road, Blakenhall, had to be closed down for 10 days when rodents were discovered in March last year.

Owner Sukaginder Singh Samra and his wife Kulwinder Kaur both admitted charges of failing to ensure adequate procedures were in place to control pests, failing to ensure food was not contaminated and failing to ensure the premises was properly cleaned and maintained.

Wolverhampton Magistrates Court heard yesterday how mice were discovered in the store during a visit by environmental health officers.

Mr Kevin Roberts, prosecuting on behalf of Wolverhampton City Council, said droppings were found in various places throughout the supermarket including the store room, under shelves and near vegetables.

Mr Peter Taylor, defending, said the pair had been running the shop for more than 25 years and, until this incident, had an "excellent" and "unblemished" record.

He said that closing the store for 10 days had been "disastrous" for the owners.

The couple was ordered to pay a total fine of £3,000 and costs of £1,829.