EVIDENCE of mice has been found at an Oldham store during a food hygiene inspection.

During a routine inspection at A1 Sweet Centre on Ashton Road, Oldham on October 2, officers found ‘evidence of mice’.

In response to the discovery, inspectors urged staff at the store to carry out a “thorough deep clean” and “call out pest control (immediately)” in a written report.

Officers added that “the premises needs decluttering throughout to make cleaning easier (immediately)” and all holes need to be filled.

Staff at the Ashton Road shop were also told to immediately clean the grease off the sides of all the equipment and display the store’s allergen sign.

The list of required improvements continued, with a “handrail for the stairs” and “hand drying for the wash hand basin” recommended for installation “immediately”.

The Safer Food Better Business pack, which includes food safety management procedures, food hygiene regulations for small businesses and a diary, was also found to be incomplete by inspectors.

The diary section needs to be completed daily, according to the written report.

Under the Food Hygiene and Safety category the store was ranked as fair, signalling some non-compliance with statutory obligations.

Inspectors meanwhile ranked the Confidence in Management as little, meaning there was a varying record of compliance, a poor appreciation of hazards and no food safety management system.

Structural Compliance was ranked as poor, indicating some major non-compliance with statutory obligations.

According to the Oldham Council the store has had a revisit, with some progress being made but some works are still required.

Re-rating inspections must be applied for by the business and the council has yet to receive a request for a re-rating inspection.

A representative from the store said at the time of the inspection building work was being carried out which caused the clutter and that the shop was “trying its best and working its hardest as it always has.”

The store makes fresh Jalebi and sells khoya barfi and habshi halwa, according to its Facebook page.

Members of the public can check the hygiene ratings of food businesses on the Food Standards Agency website.