24 November 2023 , 07:14
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Stomach churning footage has shown the moment a family of mice scurry around for food outside a Pizza Hut in Blackburn.
A mum from Darwen told how she had eaten at the restaurant in Mayson Street, close to the Vue cinema, with her children and then saw the rodents by bins as they were leaving on Wednesday night. She described having enjoyed their food and were waiting at the reception to collect another takeaway pizza for a friend when she spotted the mice out of the corner of her eye.
When she got up to investigate she saw a brazen mouse racing around the corner. When they went outside to see where the mouse had gone they saw it run into the area where the bins are kept. As the mum filmed the incident two other mice then appeared before darting back to the bins. Bosses at Pizza Hut have said it has launched an investigation after customers filmed the mice.
The restaurant was last inspected by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's officers in June 2023 and was awarded a 5/5 food hygiene rating. There is no suggestion the mice were inside the restaurant.
A mum visiting the restaurant spotted the rodents (Lanc Live)A Pizza Hut UK & Europe spokesperson told LancsLive: "At Pizza Hut we take health and safety in all our restaurants very seriously and we constantly monitor our Huts, including regular visits from our independent inspectors, to ensure they adhere to our high standards of food safety and cleanliness. We are investigating this reported sighting to ensure that there is no risk to our customers or products."
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It comes as neighbours have complained of a Middlesbrough alleyway that has reportedly become overrun with rats and smells so bad that they can't hang their washing out. One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said the problem in North Ormesby was due to flytipping in the area.
Pizza Hut said it was investigating following the footage (Lanc Live)They said: "Although these alleys have lockable gates people are still managing to get rubbish in. People in other properties [...] also use it. I don't know who is doing it as most of the people along here are respectable. I rang the council again only yesterday and I hope they come today as it's getting beyond a joke."
The frustrated local continued: "There are rats having a wonderful time with dirty barbecues left from the summer. They are nesting in the filthy mattresses. We try to keep our homes respectable and clean but how can we when these smells are coming through? You can't even hang your washing out in the summer because of the smell. My blood boils with it."