There was more action off screen for this cinema-goer when he found a nasty surprise in his drink.

Slurping away on his flavoured ice drink Dimitrios Evangelou suddenly found his straw clogged and on closer inspection discovered the grim cause behind the blockage - a dead mouse.

He said: ”My straw got clogged and I wondered what it was. I thought it was part of the drink but I pulled out a mouse by the tail.

“I was a bit shocked and revolted by the whole thing.”

Mr Evangelou, 43, visited the British Film Institute (BFI) Southbank cinema last month to watch Iron Man Two and decided to order the frozen drink to enjoy during the film.

After making the horrifying discovery he went back to the counter to speak to the manager.

He said: “He was very apologetic and said ‘This has never happened before’.”

The Richmond and Twickenham Times has seen photographic evidence of the incident but it was too graphic to publish.

Once recovered from the shock Mr Evangelou managed to return to the screen and watch the film.

As he left, the manager offered him free cinema tickets and told him to let them know how he felt the next day.

A week later he received the news the mouse had been tested and given the all-clear of having any diseases dangerous to humans.

He also received a letter from the BFI apologising and offering him a year's complimentary BFI membership and £75 worth of tickets to be used at the BFI Southbank or BFI IMAX.

But Mr Evangelou has refused the offer.

He said: “I thought ‘Is that it? You just served me a dead mouse’.

“That’s in no way compensation for what I’ve been through.”

A BFI spokesman said: “We were very concerned when Mr Evangelou informed us that he had found a mouse in a drink we had served him and we immediately offered him a goodwill gesture out of acknowledgement of what must have been an extremely unpleasant experience.

“Following investigations instigated by Mr Evangelou and ourselves, carried out by independent health and safety inspectors from Lambeth Council and pest control experts, no areas of concern were found and it was decided that there was no need for further review, but it remains a mystery as to how the incident occurred.”

He said the BFI was “saddened” their further gesture of goodwill had been rejected by Mr Evangelou.