COFFEE house Caffè Nero is to launch a new coffee-cured bacon sandwich.

The chain - which has a branch in Carlisle and another in Kendal - is the first nationwide retailer to combine the full-bodied flavour of its premium Italian espresso coffee with British bacon.

The coffee-cured bacon offering is part of an extensive espresso-infused menu that will be available from Wednesday, April 17.

To create the taste of the bacon, it is cured for more than 20 hours using Caffè Nero’s blend of coffee to achieve the intensity of flavour.

The chain say the result is a full-bodied taste, balanced with sweet notes of chocolate and nut.

Hannah McKay, UK head of food at Caffè Nero said: “We’ve introduced some delicious new options to the menu, with the aim of putting our coffee craft into our food, to give it a premium appeal.

"When it comes to enhancing a classic like the bacon sandwich, we knew the only match would have to be our signature blend.

"Rather than overpowering the great taste of bacon, our cold brew infusion marries perfectly with every mouthful, starting with notes of soft caramel and finishing with the distinctive smoky flavour of warm coffee beans.

"It’s bacon, but not as you know it and we’re confident that when customers take their first bite, they’ll be back for more!”