MYSTERY surrounds the fate of two of Chester’s high street foot spas after they suddenly closed their doors to the public.

Despite holding a grand opening just over a year ago, Chester’s branch of Appyfeet in the Grosvenor Shopping Centre is now standing empty, leaving customers baffled and with little explanation.

And not too far away, Aquasiva on Bridge Street Row also stands in darkness, though a sign on the window claims to still offer the pedicure treatment, which involves tiny garra rufa fish nibbling the dead skin off customers’ feet.

The closures come just months after The Sun reported that fish pedicures could transmit diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C if water was not changed regularly.

Although the report, by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), stated that the risk of infection associated with fish pedicures was ‘very low’, it said if correct hygiene procedures were not followed, infections could be passed on through water that has been left unchanged.

At the time, both Appyfeet and Aquasiva staunchly dismissed the claims and insisted their hygiene standards were exemplary.

But whereas, just five months ago, Chester had three thriving fish spa businesses, now only Heavenly Feet on Godstall Lane remains and staff there say they’re confident there is still a high demand for fish pedicures in the city.

Sioned Roberts, who co-owns Heavenly Feet – which also operates as a beauty salon – with her sister Sara and mother Eilir told The Chronicle: “We’re not worried, and if anything, we have probably had even more interest in the treatments in the past few months.

“People do tend to show more interest in how our system works in terms of hygiene since The Sun story, but because people know they can expect high standards from our trained therapists in a comfortable, private atmosphere, I think they have more faith in us.

“The fish pedicure started off as a craze at first but now it’s seen as a treatment.”

She added: “I don’t know the reasons for the other places closing but there is still a big demand for fish pedicures.”

The Chronicle has attempted to contact both AppyFeet and Aquasiva in Chester about the closures but without success.

A spokesperson for Appyfeet’s head office said some of the UK branches were still trading, but was not willing to comment further.