It's probably the heaviest can of beer in the world, and it is being sold exclusively in Brighton and Hove.

Foster's is testing the 35-pint "Coolkeg", which keeps the lager at six degrees Celsius, in the city before deciding whether to introduce it nationally.

This is the first time a keg so large has been sold in Britain, after its invention in Germany two years ago.

The drinks firm is marketing the self-cooling kegs as the perfect accompaniment to summer barbecues and picnics on the beach. At £49.95 per keg, the cost is £1.43 per pint.

The size of the metre-high kegs may be a mouthwatering sight but a bit of back-breaking work may be needed to take one home.

Nigel Pollard, deputy manager of Thresher in Dyke Road, Brighton, said: "They are very heavy. Ideally you would need at least two people to shift one.

"It's early days but we've had lots of people looking at them, especially lads between 25 and 35, saying they were impressed."

The off-licence has sold two since introducing them last month.

Bottoms Up, in Queens Road, Brighton, has sold four since they arrived last Friday.

Deputy manager Jim McCormack said: "I can't imagine you walking down the beach with one - they're so heavy, you'd probably give yourself a hernia."

Scottish Courage, which owns Foster's, will analyse feedback from the Brighton trial in September.

Spokesman David Jones said: "Brighton is a good test market for us. There are a lot of young people living and working in the area, who are open to new ideas."