A poll of 4,903 people by the Beeb's foodie mag Olive has proved what anyone south of Lancashire has always known: tripe is completely disgusting and no-one in their right mind would touch it with a ten-foot fork.

And before the good burghers of Manchester get shirty and start banging on about how they remember their dear old grans boiling up cows' guts in milk with onions and how absolutely smashing it was, Cockney-fave jellied eels came in a well-deserved second in the enlightening probe.

Unsurprisingly, the legendary deep-fried Mars bar - cause of 73 per cent of Glaswegian coronaries - secured third place, narrowly beating kids' all-time no-no, brawn, and congealed pig's blood in a tube (black pudding) into fourth and fifth places, respectively.

Oh yes, the enlightening bits of the poll are that the UK's former national dish, chicken tikka masala, earned 17th spot, but at least managed to beat faggots, sandwich spread and banana custard in the nation's affections.

Olive editor Christine Hayes proclaimed: "British cuisine has finally earned some well-deserved respect in the culinary world but there are some dishes, no matter how classic or traditional, which are unlikely to pass your lips."

Here's that list in full. It requires a strong stomach:

1. Tripe
2. Jellied eels
3. Deep-fried Mars bar
4. Brawn (meat from the head of a pig)
5. Black pudding
6. Tapioca
7. Faggots
8. Marmite
9. Semolina
10. Beetroot (in vinegar)
11. Pickled egg
12. Haggis
13. Sandwich spread
14. Cockles (in vinegar)
15. Spaghetti hoops
16. Banana custard
17. Chicken tikka masala
18. Kippers
19. Rhubarb
20. Tinned tomato soup

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