Lurpak has been trending on social media as shoppers have expressed "utter horror" at the price increase of the butter in supermarkets.

The Northern Echo wanted to know if this stark price increase of Lurpak elsewhere in the UK had extended to supermarkets here.

A 1kg tub is as much as £9 in stores across the UK, while the 500g tub is seeing the bill come in at as much as £6.

In Darlington, there did not seem to be costs as high as this.

The Northern Echo: The cost of Lurpak at Tesco on Tubwell RowThe cost of Lurpak at Tesco on Tubwell Row

The Northern Echo: The cost of Lurpak at Sainsbury's Duke StreetThe cost of Lurpak at Sainsbury's Duke Street

Lurpak in Tesco Express on Tubwell Row, Sainsbury’s on Victoria Road and Sainsbury’s Local on Duke Street were all labelled at £4.

That was for a 500g pack as there were no 750g packs available when we visited.

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Responding to the increases seen elsewhere, a statement from Lurpak's owner Arla Foods said: “We understand that recent inflation in food price is hitting many households really hard right now.

“Unfortunately, our farmers are facing a similar situation with prices for the feed, fertiliser and fuel they need to produce milk, all rising significantly in recent months.

“While we don’t set the prices on the shelves, we do work closely with the retailers to ensure our farmers receive a fair price for the milk they produce.

“Prices on the shelves have had to rise in recent months to ensure our farmers can continue supplying the products that we all enjoy.”

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Sainsbury's has responded to criticism over the pricing elsewhere in the UK and has said: “The price of products will be influenced by a range of factors, including manufacturer's costs, and we are doing all we can to mitigate rising costs where we can.”

A spokesperson for the supermarket pointed out it had own brand options and butter was also part of its Sainsbury's Quality, Aldi Price Match campaign.

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