KFC branch evacuated after rat spotted jumping around in bin

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video KFC has been forced to carry out a deep clean of one of its restaurants after a rat was seen jumping around in a bin. The rodent was spotted at the branch in Horsted Retail Park, Chatham, in Kent last Friday. Customer Lauren Vidler said she had been shopping with her children for back-to-school supplies when they decided to get some lunch not long after the fast food eatery opened at 11am. The 32-year-old said: ‘My kids and I were going upstairs, we actually had our food on the tray, and we heard a scream downstairs as we were walking up. The rat was spotted jumping around in the restaurant bin (Cover Media) Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. ‘We popped our heads over the bannister, and my daughter said that there’s a mouse, so I looked and realised it was a big rat.’ Footage shows the pest jumping around inside a bin before a member of staff partially shuts it. Not long after, Lauren said everyone in the restaurant was asked to leave. Those who had ordered food were given refunds. She added: ‘There was one employee who was getting everyone out and quite a few behind the tills. ‘When I was waiting for my money back, they were still serving people at the drive-thru. I had to tell the man giving me my refund that they needed to close it.’ The KFC was then shut for the rest of the day. It is understood to have reopened the following morning. A spokesperson for the fast food chain apologised to affected customers and says it brought in a specialist to deal with the issue as soon as it was brought to its attention. A series of inspections since have found no signs of pest activity, they said. The KFC at Horsted Retail Park in Chatham where the rodent was spotted(Picture: Google Maps/Cover Media) Medway Council confirmed its environmental health team is aware of the incident and is investigating. A spokesperson for KFC said: ‘We want to apologise to our customers in Chatham. Hygiene is a top priority across our restaurants, and this clearly falls short of the high standards we expect. ‘As soon as the issue was brought to our attention, we closed the restaurant and brought in a pest-control specialist to deal with the issue. ‘A series of inspections since have found no signs of pest activity in our kitchens, food preparation or storage areas, and additional preventative measures have been put in place. ‘Following these checks and a thorough deep clean, the restaurant is open and ready to welcome customers back.’ According to the Food Standards Agency, the public body responsible for protecting public health in relation to food, the restaurant was last inspected on 28 July this year and received a rating of five out of five (very good). Arrow MORE: Boy, 4, is killed by bus while ‘playing chase’ with his brother Arrow MORE: Greggs just brought back one of its most controversial items ever — with a twist Arrow MORE: McDonald’s fans threaten to boycott as popular perk is axed after almost 20 years News Updates Stay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.