DARING customers at a South Lakeland pub have been sampling a smelting hot curry which is set to feature in the Guinness Book of Records.

Naga Madras has been launched at the Engine Inn at Cark-in-Cartmel and is believed to be the world’s hottest curry.

Among the indigestion-inducing ingredients is a chilli called Naga Viper - said to be ‘hot enough to strip paint’ - which has been developed over two years by The Chilli Pepper Company of Cark.

Gerald Fowler, who produced the piping hot pepper, is a regular at the village pub and teamed up with landlord Chris Adhead on learning that he planned to host a curry night at the hostelery.

They both came up with the idea of using the extreme chilli in a tastebud numbing dish.

Scores of customers signed a disclaimer stating they are of sound body and mind before sampling the dish at the launch of the dish on Friday.

Only two men managed to sweat their way through a full curry.

“They absolutely loved it,” said Mr Adhead.

“They said it was the hottest thing they have ever tried but as there are so many flavours mixed in they said it was great.”

The event also raised hundreds of pounds for Help for Heroes as Mr Adhead and his wife, Karen, decided to donate a percentage of the profits from the launch event to the charity.

Courageous customers will now have to wait until after Christmas to sample the dish as the pub has a festive menu on throughout December.

“The chilli is selling internationally, it has really taken off,” said Mr Fowler.

“This is the first restaurant to sell it in a dish.

"It really hits the back of your mouth but the chef, Wayne Boak, has done a great job as there are lots of flavours.

“People from the Guinness Book of World Records have been in touch to add our chilli to the 2011 edition of the book.”

Mr Fowler and his team produced the plant by crossing the three hottest chillies in the world – the Bhut Jolokia, Naga Morich and Trinidad Scorpion.