The ultimate "bloke's" meal hits the shop shelves this week with the launch of the world's first Guinness sausages.

The delicacy, made with 14 per cent stout and succulent pork, aims to inject new vigour into the staple British meal of bangers and mash.

But makers Saxby's said the sausages would not replace the need for a pint of the real stuff to wash them down: by the time the banger is cooked, all the alcohol has evaporated.

Sausage developer Paul Massey said: "They're aimed at the men-behaving-badly market."

The company has also launched Kilkenny sausages, containing 9 per cent of the beer. Both flavours are packaged in special cartons resembling cans of beer.

Reg Morris from Walsall, the Guinness Book of Records' world champion sausage eater, gave them the thumbs up at this week's London launch.

Mr Morris has eaten 90 one ounce sausages in three minutes 13 seconds. However, he said these bangers were a delicacy to be savoured.