The Co-op is asking customers in the North-East to return six-pint plastic milk bottles because of possible contamination.

The recall relates only to six-pint poly-bottles of Co-op Whole Milk with a use-by date of September 22.

A Co-op spokesman: "Isolated bottles in this batch may contain traces of detergent and we are taking this step as a precautionary measure.

"We have acted following a complaint received from a coffee shop about a strange smell to the milk. We would urge any customer who has bought one or more of these bottles to return it to their nearest Co-op store, where they will receive a full refund."

The spokesman said an investigation into the cause of the contamination was being carried out at the Co-op creamery in Blaydon, Tyneside, where the milk was pasteurised and bottled.