FOR anyone on a diet, the smell of a couple of traditional British bangers sizzling in the frying pan can be sheer torture.

But, while the rest of the country may have to abstain, in the quest for a narrower waistline, members of a Thirsk slimmers' club have been able to indulge themselves a little.

Butcher Duncan Haigh has been making low-fat sausages just for them. There were a few false starts before he struck upon the right recipe, but Mr Haigh has now come up with a pork sausage with a calorie count low enough to qualify as low-fat.

"My first few attempts missed the mark calorie-wise, so I tried another batch using the best pork and no fat - and this time we hit the right spot," he said.

The idea was inspired by Thirsk Slimming World class leader Sharon Bartram, who suggested the fat-busting banger to Mr Haigh's sister, Sarah Colley, during a family get-together.

She has therefore been honoured in the new brand's name - Sharon's Low-Syn Sausages.

"I've tried other low-fat sausages before but, to be honest, I just threw them away," said one club member. "However, these are delicious."