A viral video of raw chicken being blowtorched in a back lane has prompted a council investigation.

Perplexing footage which went viral on social media on Wednesday (March 1) appeared to show chickens being cooked in shopping trolleys using a blowtorch.

The video was allegedly shot in a back alley behind a food premises on Parliament Road in Middlesbrough.

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The clip shows a man using a large blowtorch connected to a gas cannister appearing to cook the poultry on a supermarket delivery trolley.

The Northern Echo: The video appears to show chickens being blowtorched in a back alley.The video appears to show chickens being blowtorched in a back alley. (Image: TWITTER/@SUZESPORT)

A second clip shows smaller pieces of meat reportedly being cooked using the same unusual method in a shopping trolley.

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Middlesbrough Council has now said it is looking into the bizarre footage with food hygiene and health and safety teams understood to be investigating.

A spokesperson for the local authority said: “We are aware of the video circulating online and are looking into the matter.

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“As a matter of course we expect all food processes to be carried out in a safe and hygienic manner.”

It is understood singeing chicken skin is a method which can be used to remove any excess hair or feathers from the poultry before cooking it.

The clip prompted a huge reaction on social media with many tagging the council’s Twitter account to bring it to their attention.