A Merseyside shop where people have been banned for three months was also given the worst possible rating following a food hygiene inspection. In March 2025, Wirral Council said there was an “imminent risk to health” because of what they found.

Wallasey Market based in Liscard was given a zero food hygiene rating in March 2025. The business was operated by Wallasey Market Limited at the time but the LDRS understands it has since changed owners, though the rating was still in place.

The report said the standards found at the premises were “wholly unacceptable” with a “mouse infestation, gnawed product, [and] droppings on shelves”. The shop was told it needed to dispose of chocolate, lentils, and chickpeas as these were potentially contaminated.

placeholder image — Wallasey Market | LDRS

Officers said the businesses needed to employ a competent pest contractor to eradicate the mouse nuisance. A hygiene prohibition notice said there was an “imminent risk to health.”

Mice were found “eating chocolate which is on display at the main counter” as well as gnawing packaging of rice, couscous, lentils, chickpeas, white beans”.

The notice said: “Mice due to their foraging nature and activity spread bacteria across [products] posing an imminent and significant risk to health”. Five days later on March 28, the council confirmed the health risk no longer existed with the “nuisance now managed and controlled”.

Earlier in December 2025, Wallasey Market was served with a closure order by Sefton Magistrates Court for three months. This means the shop has been forced to close until next year.

The closure order bans anyone from entering the shops at all times with the exception of anyone who has permission from Wirral Council or members of emergency services. The order will end 4pm on March 10, 2026.

The local authority said: “The closure orders were sought following repeated enforcement activity and intelligence reports indicating ongoing criminal behaviour at the premises.

“These actions form part of a wider strategy to tackle the sale of illegal tobacco and vaping products, which pose significant health risks and undermine legitimate businesses.”

The notice said the occupiers of the premises were not in court. The order was made due to concerns of “disorderly, offensive, or criminal behaviour,” “serious nuisance to members of the public”, and “disorder near the premises associated with the use of the premises”.

At Wallasey Market, Wirral Council said 560 illegal e-cigarettes, 220 illegal e-cigarette refill cartridges, 1kg of illegal hand-rolling tobacco, and 80 illegal cigarettes were seized.

In a witness statement provided to Sefton Magistrates’ Court, Wirral’s public health director Dave Bradburn said: “A significant risk that undermines tobacco control measures is the illicit tobacco trade and underage sales of tobacco. As illicit tobacco products are sold at significantly lower prices, often less than half the price of legitimate products, consequently are more affordable for children.

“There is no doubt that businesses in Wirral that engage in practices such as the sale of illicit and counterfeit tobacco and vape products, or facilitate underage sales, pose a significant health risk to communities in which they operate.

“Often illicit tobacco and vape products that have not been tested and are unlicensed pose a risk to the health of anyone who uses them as their contents are unknown. These activities represent a public health threat and nuisance, fundamentally undermining tobacco control strategies and smoking cessation interventions.”