The owner of discount retail chain 99p Stores has been fined £154,000 after mouse droppings, fly-infested rotting food and crisps "sticky with urine" were found at two Croydon shops.

Poundland, which bought the company earlier this year, was slapped with one of the highest penalties ever issued for food hygiene failings following the disgusting discoveries at the town-centre branches.

Croydon Council inspectors visited 99p Stores in North End and Church Street last year after complaints from shoppers. They found both were infested with mice.

Inspectors noticed a strong smell of mouse urine, droppings all over the floor and packets of biscuits that had been chewed at the North End branch when they visited in August.

A ground-floor store room contained fly-infested rotting fruit and the shop floor was littered with debris, including food waste.

Health and safety officers also seized a pest-control contractor’s report about a long-term rodent problem that detailed solutions that had not been followed. 

At the Church Street branch, visited in October last year, inspectors discovered "sticky" packets of crisps covered in mouse urine on sale on the shop floor.

They found a "pervasive" smell of mouse urine, droppings littered across food storage shelves and chewed packaging. 

Health officers spotted holes through which mice could crawl in the fire exits of each store.

They ordered both shops to close until the infestations had been tackled. 

They have since been allowed to reopen after making progress on tackling the problems, but mouse droppings have been still found during four subsequent inspections.

Councillor Mark Watson, cabinet member for communities, safety and justice, said: "It makes me angry that a company of this size can allow such dreadful failures of hygiene in its stores.

"This is a company that makes profits running into the millions, so there really is no excuse for such atrocious conditions to exist in its shops."

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Revolting: Mouse droppings in the Church Street 99p Stores

99p Stores was fined after its admitting seven breaches of food safety and hygiene laws at Croydon Crown Court on Monday.

The penalty is the highest handed to a Croydon shop for hygiene breaches.

Judge Peter Gower said: "This company fell, in respect of both stores, far short of the appropriate standard by allowing breaches to subsist over a long period of time. 

"If it did not completely ignore, it certainly failed adequately to act on the concerns raised by its independent contractors."

Coun Watson added: "The fine reflects the severity of the case, as was made clear in the judge’s comments, and I hope that it’s a lesson learned by the company.

"Let it also be a warning to others to keep on top of their hygiene responsibilities for the safety and well-being of their customers."

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'Appalling conditions': Mouse droppings and chewed biscuits at 99p Stores were punished with £154,000 fines

A Poundland spokesman said: "The offences at the 99p Croydon stores took place under the previous ownership before we acquired 99p Stores. 

"Poundland takes matters relating to the health and safety of its colleagues and customers very seriously."

However, the council said "small amounts of mouse droppings" were found at the Church Street store on Wednesday last week.