A 99p store was ordered to pay out more than £8,000 after a mouse infestation.

The shop, in London Road, Enfield, was fined £8,873 after environmental health officers found food that had been urinated on by mice and packets of biscuits that had been gnawed by the rodents.

Droppings were also found under the shelves of the biscuit, pretzels, cake, cereal and crisp aisles and in the food storage area on the first floor.

Enfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for environment and community safety Cllr Chris Bond said: “These hygiene failings posed a serious risk to the health of the general public and we had no option other than to prosecute for what were significant failings to control an infestation of mice.

“While I’m pleased that the company took swift action to address the problems we identified, I find it difficult to understand why a national retailer would allow urine stained packets of food to be sold to customers in the run up to Christmas. It is completely unacceptable and I hope the level of fine imposed encourages all retailers to take food hygiene seriously.”

The store pleaded guilty to two offences under the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations, 2006 at Tottenham Magistrates’ Court on April 2.

Action taken by the shop to fully clean and disinfect of the affected areas was completed by December 24, 2013, and no further sign of mice had been found.