Veggie burgers have more than twice as much salt as their meat equivalents, a study has found.

The report, by campaigners at Action on Salt, found over a quarter (28 per cent) of vegetarian and vegan ready made meat substitutes were higher in salt than their maximum salt targets that had been due to be met by 31st December 2017.

The average veggie burger contains more salt, at 0.89g, than a meat one which has 0.75g, Action on Salt found. In addition some vegetarian sausages have as much salt as the saltiest meat sausages.

This is despite such options commonly being viewed as "healthier" options, amid growing health concerns about eating too much processed meat.

The NHS said adults should eat no more than 6g of salt a day, equivalent to around a teaspoon.