Italian mozzarella producers are challenging their British counterparts to a grand taste-off after being stung by claims that British-made cheese is better than their own.

There is a small but growing band of buffalo mozzarella farmers in the UK, who stand to benefit if a no-deal Brexit strangles the import of food from the continent.

The gauntlet was thrown down by the Italians after one proud producer of buffalo mozzarella in Hampshire claimed that his cheese was not just equal to the iconic Italian original, but superior.

Jody Scheckter, a South African former Formula One world champion, rears around 1,000 buffalo at Laverstoke Park Farm near Overton, Hants.

“Our mozzarella is very consistent and very good – it’s better than much of the Italian stuff,” he told The Daily Telegraph.