A “serious mouse infestation” and “dirty conditions” has prompted UK health authorities to close a Tesco Metro outlet in London’s Covent Garden.

Problems at the store were discovered following an inspection and the site will remain closed until full clean-up measures have been implemented, a spokesperson for UK’s Department of Health confirmed. 

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A spokesperson for Tesco claimed it was an “isolated incident” and added the retailer insists on the “highest standards of hygiene in our stores”. The spokesperson added that Tesco was “extremely concerned” by the issues uncovered at the Covent Garden outlet. 

“The Covent Garden store is temporarily closed and we are taking urgent steps to deal with the problem. We apologise to our customers for not meeting our own very high standards on this occasion,” the spokesperson said.  

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