Stuff the turkey! Why shops and shoppers go mad for pigs in blankets

The popular sausages in bacon now appear in pizzas, gravy, milkshakes and even dog treats as retailers vie for our Christmas food spend

It may be a stuffed turkey, a side of salmon or a nut roast at the centre of your Christmas Day table. But this year retailers are throwing everything at those little sausages wrapped in bacon that usually sit on the side, in the hope of clawing back some much-needed revenue.

The food industry has gone berserk over pigs in blankets, offering dozens of new varieties as well as spin-offs such as gravy, pizzas, milkshakes and even dog treats.