Brown ale, tinned spaghetti and vinyl floor coverings have been ditched from the basket of items used to measure UK inflation.

In a reflection of the nation's changing tastes, takeaway caffe latte, dried potted snacks and flat-pack bookcases found their way in.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) changes its 650-strong basket of goods and services once a year to include more up-to-date items.

New items are added to the basket to represent increased areas of spending while other items are deleted as spending on them falls.

The ONS said the changes reflected the nation's "high-speed lifestyle" with burger in a bun and kebabs among takeaway items included.

National statistician Len Cook said: "Households appear to be changing their eating habits to cope with busy lives, changing tastes and leisure patterns."

As well as dried potted snacks, diet-aid drink powder and round lettuce are also now being tracked by ONS statisticians.

Among household goods, complete dry dog food replaces dog mixer, while single serve cat food is preferred in the basket instead of dry cat food.

Designer spectacles, dental insurance, hair and shower gel and slimming clubs are also newcomers, while other items and services on the way out include laundrette charges, frozen fish in sauce and an electronic keyboard.