Muslims are to be allowed to drink civet coffee - the world's most expensive - which is extracted from the dung of the wild cats.

In a religious edict issued today following a deep discussion on the issue, Indonesia's influential Ulema Council announced that civet coffee, known locally as Kopi Luwak, is "halal" and can be consumed after being cleaned.

Kopi Luwak, named after the Indonesian name for civet, is made from hard beans that have been eaten by the cats and then fermented in their stomachs before being excreted and roasted.

It is highly prized for its smooth flavour and bitterless aftertaste, sometimes fetching well over £130 a pound.