Tony Johnson has been taking his burnt meat pie on holiday for almost 40 years.

The 73-year-old says the Holland’s pie, which overcooked back in 1972, has become an heirloom which takes pride of place on the mantelpiece when it’s not clocking up air miles.

The pastry has been to the US, Barbados, Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Kuwait and Thailand. It has even travelled to the Falklands with Mr Johnson’s son-in-law, who serves in the RAF, and to Iraq with his two grandsons, who are also in the armed forces. It is believed to have travelled 800,000km (500,000 miles).

Mrs Johnson said: ‘I think the whole situation is a little crazy to be honest, as do our friends. I must admit though, it has provided the family with many laughs over the years, so it’s not too much of a bad thing, I guess.’