Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Coca Cola stressed this was an isolated incident that did not affect any products currently for sale

Police have begun an investigation after what appeared to be human waste was found in drinks cans delivered to a Coca Cola factory in Northern Ireland.

The night shift at the Lisburn factory was disrupted last week when machines became clogged; Coca Cola said it had impounded all affected cans.

The company stressed this was an isolated incident that did not affect any products currently for sale.

Police are investigating reports that a consignment may have been contaminated.

As reported in the Belfast Telegraph, the cans arrive at the plant without tops on and are then filled with the drink before being sealed and sold across Northern Ireland.

"Detectives are investigating an incident at commercial premises in the Lisburn area following reports that a consignment of containers delivered to the premises had been contaminated," said a spokesman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

'Beggars belief'

A spokesperson for Coca-Cola said the company was aware of an incident involving empty cans at the Knockmore Hill plant.

"We are treating this matter extremely seriously and are conducting a thorough investigation in cooperation with the PSNI," said the spokesperson.

Image copyright Albert Bridge Image caption The bottling plant is at Knockmore, Lisburn

"The problem was identified immediately through our robust quality procedures and all of the product from the affected batch was immediately impounded and will not be sold.

"This is an isolated incident and does not affect any products currently on sale."

The Food Standards Agency said: "The FSA in Northern Ireland is aware of a physical contamination incident at Coca-Cola Hellenic in Lisburn. There is no evidence to suggest that any affected product has reached the market.

"The incident is subject to an investigation by the PSNI and the environmental health unit of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council."

Pat Catney, SDLP MLA for Lagan Valley, said the incident "beggars belief".

"I am not sure how contamination could have come about," he said. "They are sticklers for hygiene, cleanliness and about contamination.

"We shall have to wait for the police investigation. But it is a state-of-the art factory. I have been around it and this is one of the most professional set-ups I have ever seen."