A probiotic cheese that has the added benefit of being half-fat will be in Tesco at the end of next month.

The mature Cheddar is the result of 12 months' development by Somerset-based Cricketer Farm and has been created to provide consumers with the benefits of 'friendly' bacteria without having to put on the pounds.

The cheese is available in 240g resealable packs with an rsp of £1.79 and retains the flavour and texture of full-fat cheese, according to sales and marketing manager Simon O'Brien. "We were determined not to compromise on taste or texture, so we have poured all our passion, along with local milk, into this venture," he said.