An investigation has been launched into an infestation of mice at the Selborne Walk Shopping Mall in Walthamstow, it has emerged.
 

Two stores in the complex have been affected and problems with rodents are thought to date back until at least last summer.


It comes after three mice were spotted running around the café at British Home Stores (BHS) on Monday lunchtime.


Staff reportedly told horrified customers it was a long-standing issue and said at least one other store was affected.
 

A spokeswoman for the management at the Mall insisted to the Guardian that only BHS was affected.


But in a statement Costa Coffee, which is located close to BHS in the shopping centre, confirmed its staff had also spotted rodents.

A spokeswoman for the chain said it was having "frequent discussions with the shopping centre management about the maintenance of the mall".


A 50-year-old BHS customer, who did not want to be named because he has close links with Waltham Forest Council, said environmental health officers told him they had received "many" complaints.


He claimed that the council had been receiving complaints since summer 2012.


A council spokesman declined to go into details but told the Guardian an investigation had been launched into the mice at BHS.


He added: "It is an issue that has arisen in the past and BHS has taken action with regard to their kitchen area.
 

"[There is] not much else to say at this stage."


The BHS customer said: "I was having a business lunch at around 1pm when my companion suddenly shouted he had seen something.


"I turned around and saw three mice running across the floor. It was disgusting.


"A woman in the café rushed out straight away.


"What amazed me was the staff at the café were not surprised by it at all.

"They said it had long been a problem and said they'd also had them at Costa Coffee.


"The staff told me they had been trying to keep food off the floor and tried to keep the kitchen door shut all the time.
 

"It was very embarrassing personally as I was trying to do some business and had to apologise to the man I was with, but the real concern is public health.


"We left straight away. I had a pastry and some tea but I couldn't finish it. I worry about the families and children that eat there."

'WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE' - THE MALL


A spokeswoman for BHS said: "BHS and the Waltham Forest Council are currently working closely together to resolve this as a matter of urgency."
 

A spokeswoman for Costa Coffee said: "Customers can be confident that Costa takes all aspects of food hygiene extremely seriously.
 

"We aim to ensure that, in every store, food and drinks are prepared and handled according to recognised practices for good hygiene and that premises are maintained in a clean and hygienic condition.


"Our franchise partner who recently took over the running of the store, has alerted the Shopping Centre Management team to the fact that mice have been seen in the vicinity.
 

"As a result the store team have taken measures to ensure that the Costa store is free from pests and are having frequent discussions with the shopping centre management about the maintenance of the mall.


"Our customers can be confident that our high standards have not been compromised in any way."


A spokeswoman for the Mall said: “We encourage the highest standards of hygiene at The Mall and believe BHS and the council are working together to resolve this issue.


"We can confirm no other retailers have problems with mice and that we ensure pest control checks are carried out regularly.”


The Guardian has contacted other retailers at the shopping mall to ask if they have experienced problems with mice, although there is no suggestion other stores are affected.


Have you seen mice in the Selborne Walk Mall? Contact reporter Daniel Binns on 0779 547 6625 or via email at dbinns@london.newsquest.co.uk