A potentially toxic chemical linked with lung disease has been found in an e-cigarette liquid for sale in this country.

The product, made by one of the country's biggest e-cigarettes firms, VIP, has been withdrawn following a BBC investigation.

In the probe, four types of e-cigarette liquid were tested in a laboratory, and a butterscotch-flavoured one was found to contain a ­chemical called diacetyl, which is safe to eat but can be harmful if inhaled.

VIP's head of retail distribution Lynne White said she was very disappointed the refill was still available as the firm's own testing discovered the chemical around a week before. She said: "This is our first issue in five years. We are very sorry it has happened, and we are investigating how it has happened."