Two regional press journalists had to be taken to hospital after carrying out a taste test for what is believed to be the hottest burger in the country.

Burger Off, in Brunswick Street, Hove, was recently voted one of the top ten burger restaurants in the country by users of reviews website Trip Advisor.

But when two journalists from Brighton daily The Argus agreed to sample its XXX Hot Chilli Burger, they were unprepared for the consequences.

Assistant news editor Arron Hendy, and trainee reporter Ruari Barratt were both taken by ambulance to the Royal Sussex County Hospital after taking one bite each.

Ruari suffered severe stomach cramps minutes after taking a bite before he lost the feeling in his hands and his eyes rolled back in his head.

Aaron was initially okay but within a couple of hours was suffering similar symptoms and followed his colleague to hospital.

Said Aaron: “I was in so much pain I was telling people I felt like I was dying. It’s embarrassing but it felt that bad.If you’re thinking of trying this burger for a dare, just don’t.”

Added Ruari: “It was hard to walk. I needed to drink milk to neutralise the burning, which was hard because I was hyperventilating so much my hands had seized up.”

The Argus has previously reported on the dangers of the burgers as people have been hospitalised before.

A waiver drawn up by owner Nick Gambardella has to be signed by customers, releasing the staff of Burger Off from any responsibility for its effects.

Mr Gambardella told the paper: “We do try and take a certain level of responsibility. We don’t sell the burger to anyone under 18, and if someone’s been drinking we don’t let them have it.

“I spend about as much time convincing people not to try one as I do selling them. I tell people it will ruin their weekend.”

The £3.90 burger contains a sauce made in India reportedly using about 5,000 kilos of piri piri chilis concentrated into one kilo.

Mr Gambardella, of Queens Park, Brighton, estimates the sauce to measure between seven and nine million on the Scoville scale, the measurement of heat in spicy food.

Pepper spray rates between 500,000 and 5 million on the scale. Tobasco sauce is between 2,500 and 5,000.