Supermarket giant Sainsbury's has been forced to apologise to a customer who was told he could not have black pudding with his full English because the chef was a Jehovah's Witness.

Customer Alan MacKay had popped into the store's café in Arnold, Nottingham, for breakfast after dropping his wife off at work.

But he was shocked when he was told her couldn't have black pudding - which is made of animal blood and fat - because of the chef's religious views.

Jehovah's Witnesses regard blood as sacrosanct, and won't eat an animal unless it has been bled according to their beliefs.

Mr MacKay said he was given a full refund by the store, and that he returned home to make his own breakfast of crumpets, egg and beans.

Sainsbury's has since apologised for the confusion and confirmed the chef is a Jevovah's Witness.

A spokeswoman said there had been a mix-up between the two kitchen staff and another worker had misunderstood the chef who asked them to prepare the black pudding.