For the second time in three days, a branch of the Albert Heijn supermarket group in Amsterdam has been forced to close because it is being plagued by mice, local broadcaster AT5 said.

Earlier this week, an AH supermarket in Osdorp had to shut down on the order of food safety inspectors. Now a second branch in Watergraafsmeer has been told to close until the problem has been sorted out.

A spokesman for the inspectorate said the publicity surrounding the first closure may have made customers more aware of mice, leading to the second shut-down.

The company said earlier this week that it has to close down a supermarket because of mice once every five years, on average. ‘It is a winter issue,’ a spokesman said. ‘The mice are looking for somewhere warm.’

Last year, two branches of the Jumbo supermarket group had to shut in Steenbergen and The Hague because of mice, news agency ANP said.