An elderly diner charged nearly £6 for a sandwich with only seven prawns in was told he was lucky to get that many.

David Eager expected a decent sized dinner after shelling out for the prawn baguette and chips, but was astounded when he discovered just half a dozen crustaceans nestling in the marie rose sauce.

When the 69-year-old complained to staff at the Coombe Lodge beefeater in Coombe Road he was told he was lucky, and that he should only have been given six.

He claims the staff member told him it was company policy to count the prawns in each sandwich, although a spokesman for chain owner Whitbread denied this was the case.

Mr Eager was given a refund of £5.99 after pointing out the “measly” number of prawns was “hardly a mouthful”.