Two German butchers have admitted to selling 88,000lb of fake kosher meat to boost their profits.

The owners of Frankfurt's Aviv store made more than £440,000 by peddling cheap cuts of beef and lamb to Jewish individuals, schools and other institutions at marked-up prices.

Identified only as Leslie W. and Akiwa H., the partners confessed to fraud during their trial at Frankfurt District Court this week.

They explained that for years, they bought meat from discount supermarket Metro before removing the veins, washing it with saltwater and affixing a kosher label.

One of the affected customers has said he now feels "plagued by sin" after eating the non-kosher produce.

Akiwa told the court that he created the scheme to avoid bankruptcy, saying: "I didn't see any other way out."

Leslie said he was "shocked and wanted to give everything up" when he discovered what his partner was doing, but was too afraid of losing his reputation to tell the authorities.

"I deeply regret my behaviour," Leslie said. Akiwa also apologised for the crime, saying: "I want to ask the forgiveness of everyone whose religious sensibilities were wounded."

However, the partners said that their sausages - at least - were always kosher. A verdict is expected next month.