Shock for mum as she spots Tesco rat in aisle

This Is Hampshire report that an Andover mum was left shocked and disgusted when she saw a rat running around Andover's Tesco superstore. Hayley Kirby, from Pilgrims Way, was shopping at the River Way store with her 12-year-old son Jordan when she saw the rat running under the bread aisle.

"I was just so shocked when I saw it come running out from under the bread.

"It was huge, definitely bigger than average, and it had obviously been eating in the store.

"Rats are vermin. They shouldn't be anywhere near Tesco.

"They are definitely the last thing you expect to see when shopping in a food store," she added.
advertisement

While she was waiting at the tills she told Jordan to look in the aisle to see if he could see anything.

"He told me members of staff were all on their knees looking under the aisles but whenever customers appro-ached they got up acting as though they weren't doing anything," she said.

Hayley later contacted Tesco's head office only to be told they were aware of the problem.

"I was told they have pest control coming in three times a week so they obviously know what's going on."

Hayley, who has shopped at Tesco for as long as she can remember, will now only shop at the superstore because its convenient..

"It's only down the road and I admit I'll be wary whenever I walk in there but I'll just remember not to buy any open ended food. Who knows which French stick the rats have been eating?"

A spokesman for Tesco said the store was aware of the problem but was adamant there was no risk to customers.

He added: "The store is based next to land used by Southern Water and rats have been an issue for the whole of the retail area. We are working as hard as we can to eradicate the problem by meshing and sealing up points of entry. It's a case of taking every possible step we can to make sure these horrible things don't gain access."