PIGS in blankets ice cream has been launched just in time for Christmas by a trendy gelateria.

Fabio's Gelato in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, is offering the porky treat, made with real meat served up in a Yorkshire pudding.

5 An ice cream parlour is serving up pigs in blankets flavoured gelato Credit: Credit: Pen News

The ice cream parlour which counts Prem ace Jack Wilshere among its regulars, created the bizarre concoction ahead of the festive period.

It features sausage, bacon, vanilla ice cream and maple syrup, with the roast dinner staple Yorkshire pudding standing in for the cone.

Owner Fabio Vincenti, who started the business with his wife Hannah, said: "Having had bacon on pancakes and chips dunked in milkshake, we were hoping for that spectrum of flavours.

"It's cold, sweet and creamy with a sweet and salty maple-smoked flavour, and an aftertaste of sausage pigs in blankets.

"It really works - think bacon maple pancakes. Bacon makes anything taste nice, even Brussels sprouts!"

Fabio admitted punters were sceptical before tasting his concoction adding: "There's a huge divide before anyone tries it. We hear 'yuck' 'oh my god' and 'no way'.

"Then when they try it their faces turn - from closed, screwed-up eyes to wide open eyes and a smile. Followed by 'oh yeah, it *does *taste like bacon.'"

Fabio, 35, said the idea came about while trying to devise festive flavour ideas.

5 Fabio's Gelato in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, is offering the porky treat, made with real meat served up in a Yorkshire pudding. Credit: Credit: Pen News

5 It features sausage, bacon, vanilla ice cream and maple syrup, with the roast dinner staple Yorkshire pudding standing in for the cone. Credit: Credit: Pen News

PORK PROBLEMS There could be a pigs in blankets shortage this Christmas EVERYONE knows pigs in blankets are one of the best parts of Christmas dinner, but this year there could be a shortage, according to the meat industry. A lack of workers means that a number of festive treats could be under threat this year, the British Meat Processors Association said. This includes anything fiddly and hand-made, such as devils on horseback, or products in which the meat is flavoured for Christmas such as gammon or ham in brine. For instance, pigs in blankets need to be rolled by hand, and the BMPA is concerned that there might not be enough workers to do all the rolling - so some families might have to go without on the big day. Sixty per cent of the workers in UK meat plants are from other countries and, at times like Christmas, the demand for staff is even higher. Working conditions in meat processing plants and their rural location also make it harder to attract seasonal staff.

"We were brainstorming Christmas flavour ideas and joking about how far we could take it," he said.

"We then set about making pigs in blankets work.

"Our friends and family all laughed but they are used to our crazy ideas and flavours, and said if anyone can make it work you guys can."

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It's just one of many bonkers flavours the ice-cream parlour has released over the years.

They've also released ice creams that taste like Marmite, the McDonald's Big Mac and Guinness.

Fabio and Hannah fell in love with gelato during a family holiday to Rome, and even took a university course about the dessert before opening their business in 2015.

5 Owner Fabio Vincenti, who started the business with his wife Hannah, said: 'It's cold, sweet and creamy with a sweet and salty maple-smoked flavour, and an aftertaste of sausage pigs in blankets.' Credit: Credit: Pen News/Sharon Cooper