A CRACKING surprise awaited Raymond and Rita Houghton when they went to cook some fried eggs.

As 72-year-old Rita opened one up she was stunned to find another egg, measuring no more than an inch, inside.

Now the pair, of Quay Street, Worcester, want to know whether their unusual discovery is a record breaker.

"We want to find out if it is the smallest ever if we can.

"It's never happened to us before," said Raymond, aged 74.

They were given the egg by their daughter, Sarah Symcox, who delivers them for a Gloucester firm.

Jessica Smith, from the British Egg Information Service, said that occasionally a shell is found inside another shell.

"This occurs when an egg has formed in the shell gland but, for unknown reasons, is not laid. Another egg is then formed over the existing egg, creating a shell within a shell. The egg is then laid," she added.

The BEIS and Guinness Book of World Records said they had no records for the smallest-ever hen egg.