THREE shop owners from Redditch have been fined more than £3,300 after a huge mouse infestation was discovered by a food hygiene officer.

The directors face fines totalling £3,349 after shocking scenes were discovered at Pol Market in Beoley Road West.

The men appeared at Redditch Magistrates on September 29 following a visit to their shop from a Food Hygiene Officer from Worcestershire Regulatory Services in September 2015.

The officer noticed numerous mouse droppings - especially in the area surrounding the display fridge, the delicatessen service area and the storerooms.

A detailed examination confirmed a clear mouse infestation and fresh droppings were on the floor area and the delicatessen area containing cooked meats.

During the visit two representatives from Pestcare also attended and confirmed that there was a mouse infestation.

Due to the extent of the problem 30 “sticky boards” were put in place to be collected the following day and the shop was closed straight away to eliminate the risk to public health.

The shop reopened in October and continues to meet standards.

The three directors of Cell PI Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to have in place adequate procedures to control pests and, secondly, failing to ensure that all stages of production, processing and distribution, that food was protected against any contamination likely to render the food unfit for human consumption.

For the first offence magistrates fined Cell Pl Ltd £950, a victim surcharge of £95 and costs £436 totalling £1,481.

Radoslaw Jacek Froncz, aged 36, of Britannia Close, Redditch, was fined £150, victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £436 – totalling £606.

Grzegorz Antoni Jez, aged 34, of Congleton Close, Redditch, was fined £150, a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £436 – totalling £606.

Krzysztof Lisowski, aged 36, was fined £200, a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £436.17 – totalling £656.

The total has to be paid within 28 days.

There was no separate penalty for the second offence.

A Worcestershire Regulatory Services spokesperson said: “Residents can rest assured that we don’t take breaches of food safety lightly and will work with business owners to bring them up to a safe standard.”