A German pensioner who received a tin of American lard 64 years ago in an aid package has only just tasted it, after discovering that it is still edible.

Food safety experts in Rostock, his home town on Germany's Baltic coast, said the pig fat was still safe to eat.

"I just didn't want to throw it away," said Hans Feldmeier, 87.

Mr Feldmeier was a student in 1948 when the US was running a huge aid programme to rebuild war-ravaged Germany. He kept the tin of lard for emergencies.

Jonathan Josephs reports.