Mouse droppings found 'embedded in Bounty bar' at WHSmith Victoria Station

High Street giant WHSmith is facing a substantial fine after mouse droppings were found embedded in a Bounty bar in one of their stock rooms.

Westminster City Council inspectors also found live mice and dead rodents under a pallet stacked with drinks at Victoria Station.

The pests could have got in through a gap beneath double doors leading to the street level, Westminster Magistrates Court heard.

No cleaning schedule could be found and there had been inadequate pest control checks.

Heavy boxes, crates and trolleys cluttered the room giving no space for staff to clean or check for pest activity.

WHSmith admitted all but one of eight charges of breaking food hygiene regulations.

One count stated there had been "smear marks visible along the wall surfaces and the shelves of the large roller racking where food was stored". The court heard 11 out of 12 samples collected by inspectors in June 2014 showed evidence of mice contamination.

As guilty pleas were entered to seven of the eight charges the remaining count was withdrawn by prosecutor Alastair Smith.

The case was referred to Southwark Crown Court for sentencing at a date to be confirmed. Half of the 26 WHSmith shops in London listed on the Food Standards Agency website have received the top rating for food hygiene while five are deemed "good" or "generally satisfactory".