This video shows a live mouse scurrying around on the counters of a central London patisserie.
Captured by a lawyer who was passing Patisserie Valerie off Holborn last night, it shows the animal in an area normally used for the cafe's cakes and pastries.
The man, a regular customer, told the Standard he was shocked not just by the mouse's presence but also by a staff member's response.
"I knocked on the window and said: 'There's a mouse in there,'" he said. "She said: 'We've got lots of mice and lots of traps all around the cafe.'
"She didn't think anything of it.
"I thought it was a bit odd for a company of that size - you would have thought care ought to be taken to get rid of the problem."
The man, who has asked to remain anonymous, said the area where he spotted the rodent had no food in it as the cafe was shutting at the time. "There weren't cakes out," he said, "but it did start nibbling some crumbs in there.
"I don't think it's acceptable in central London."
He added he was unsure he would be returning to the cafe, despite its "very nice pastries".
Jenny Skeath, group production manager for the chain, told the Standard: "I would like to apologise for the naivety of our member of staff. This has been taken very seriously and I can confirm immediate action has been taken.
"We use one of the leading pest control companies within all our stores and bakeries.
"A thorough investigation has taken place and as an added precaution a deep clean and full sanitation has been done.
"Following on from this a daily inspection will take place.
"We do not carry over any patisserie; this is produced in one of our bakeries and delivered to the store fresh on a daily basis.
"Patisserie Valerie aims for the highest standards in the quality of our products and in the service we provide."
