Dodgy Bulgarian bangers on sale in Kent contained nearly 50% horse.

The Lukanka Chumerna sausages, sold at a Dartford convenience store in Market Street, were labelled pork.

But when Kent Trading Standards bought a pack, pig was not all they found.

Tests revealed the sausages, imported by London-based Expo Foods Limited, contained 46% horse meat.

The vacuum-packed food was manufactured in Bulgaria and labelled as containing pork sausage meat.

But despite the media coverage of undeclared horse meat in various products in January last year, Expo Foods Limited did no tests on the sausages, imported in September 2013.

At Dartford Magistrates Court the company pleaded guilty to a charge under the Food Safety Act, that the product was not of the substance demanded.

It was fined £5,000 and an award of £2,500 made towards council costs plus a £120 surcharge

KCC Trading Standards regularly takes foods for sampling to ensure they are correctly labelled and safe.

Richard Strawson, KCC Trading Standards Manager, said: “We are obviously concerned that this product was found on sale in Kent.

"We are aware of the sensitivities amongst the public concerning eating horse meat and therefore feel our actions were necessary to ensure that they can have confidence that what they eat is accurately described.”

Following the sample results, Expo Foods Limited, instigated a voluntary withdrawal of the sausages from the shelves.