SAUSAGE makers Heck Food has come under fire with a storm of protest after they hosted PM hopeful Boris Johnson and created a special banger in his honour.

The company, 50 per cent of whose workforce is from Eastern Europe, has in the past been highly critical about Brexit.

But during the hustings tour of the area last week Mr Johnson was invited into their factory at Bedale and given a demonstration of sausage making with Boris Bangers top of the menu.

Mr Johnson said he was "insanely proud" to have a banger named after him. But the publicity has caused a social media storm with protests trending on twitter about Heck. The company said they would not be selling any of the special sausages and moved to allay criticism saying you had invited both Tory hopefuls into the factory.

Jay Rayner, the Observer's Food Critic said:"Two years ago I dragged my sorry **** to Helmsley to hear the owners of Heck Foods talk about how disastrous Brexit would be for their business and heard from heartbroken European employees, and now this."

Another comment said:"You play a good social media game normally, you can't tell me pics of Johnson draped in Boris Bangers were a naive mistake. You endorsed a sociopath who would watch you and your workers go under without a flicker if it got him into No.10."

Another protester added: "Are you off your trolley that is you off my shopping list."

Debbie Keeble co owner of Heck said: "Fifty per cent of our work force are from Eastern Europe. We invited both candidates for leadership, to come and see us during the York Hustings . Indeed, we welcome anyone to look round our factory, whatever their views or political party. We have always said that Brexit or no Brexit, we have to make our own success, new ranges, exporting and innovating. That’s to secure jobs. We do not specifically endorse any candidate, we want to know how our Brexit will affect our business and team. We wanted to seize upon the chance to ask them what they are going to do to secure the long term future of our team. You have to work with who is going to be in power whatever your political view, dialogue is the only way forward.

"The Boris banger was not a prototype. We’ve made sausages for lots of people who visit. We certainly won’t be selling any.

"Lots of people have been touch from Yorkshire with messages of support which we are very grateful for. By its nature Brexit is hugely divisive but we are only going to make progress by talking. And whoever becomes Prime Minister needs to listen."