A mouse has been captured on video running across the tiled floor of a McDonald's restaurant in Bristol city centre.

The rodent was filmed darting across the fast food eatery in Horsefair just yards from Bristol's new Cabot Circus shopping centre.

Passer-by Mike Knight spotted the animal as he was walking past after the store had closed, weaving in-between tables, chairs and bins.

The 29-year-old computer worker from Eastville was on his way home from the cinema and used his mobile phone to film the footage through the store window.

McDonald's blamed the problem on recent building work at the adjacent Cabot Circus shopping complex and claimed there was no risk to customers.

Mr Knight had been to watch a film at Cabot Circus Showcase Deluxe cinema with a friend on Friday evening when he spotted something moving.

He told The Post: "I spotted it out the corner of my eye as we were walking to the bus stop at about 11.30am.

"The restaurant was closed but there was a cleaner in there although they didn't seem to have noticed it.

"It was fairly big and it was running around the bins, darting across the floor. We stood and watched it for at least 10 minutes before it disappeared. out of sight.

"We banged on the window to try to alert the cleaner but we were ignored."

Mr Knight, who has previously eaten in the restaurant, took his footage to show the manager earlier this week.

Mr Knight added: "I wanted him to know he'd got a rodent problem, but he didn't seem to want to know.

"I don't think the one we saw was a rat. It was quite big but it didn't have a rat's tail, so I think it was probably a mouse.

"I certainly won't be getting any food from there again until it's sorted out."

Mice live in nests as close to a supply of food as possible and if left to multiple can contaminate food and surfaces used for food preparation.

They can carry diseases including Salmonella, Weils and Lyme disease.

Environmental health officers regularly visit takeaway eateries and restaurants throughout Greater Bristol.

Last year, Somali Kafe in Stapleton Road, Easton, was shut down because it was overrun with rodents. The former owner was later fined £10,000.

In 2007, Nan King Chinese takeaway in Highridge Road, Bishopsworth, was found to have a mice infestation. Owner Liang Wu was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay Bristol City Council's legal costs at Bristol Magistrates Court.

A spokeswoman for McDonald's said: "The hygiene and safety of our restaurants is of paramount importance to McDonald's.

"Unfortunately, as is frequently the case in areas around construction work, rodents can move to adjacent areas.

"In the case of McDonald's in Horsefair, there has been a sighting in our dining area, but no activity in the food preparation areas and no risk to customers or staff.

"McDonald's has been working closely with Bristol City Council's senior environmental health officer, Rachael Minihare, to resolve the problem.

"On her last visit Ms Minihare gave the restaurant a favourable report."