A KFC customer in California has caused an internet sensation after he posted pictures on Facebook of a rat he claimed he had found in a meal bought from the chain.

Devorise Dixon spotted the strangely shaped food in his box meal. He decided it had to be a deep fried rat after he bit into it and found it to be hard. Dixon took a picture of the food before freezing it for evidence.

KFC has said an investigation found no evidence to support the claim and that it believes Dixon's intention was to deceive the public with a hoax.

Dixon wrote on Facebook that he returned to the restaurant where he had bought the alleged rat to complain to its manager. "It sent deep chills throughout my whole body! I've been feeling weird ever since. It's time for a lawyer, be safe don't eat fast food!" he also wrote in a later post.

A KFC spokesperson told IBTimes UK: "A customer has made a serious claim against KFC and refuses to cooperate in the investigation. The images the customer originally posted do not include this second angle because it clearly shows it's a piece of hand-breaded white meat chicken.

"Based on this, and the fact that he refuses to allow anyone to see the product, we are left to believe that he intended to deceive the public with this hoax and we are considering all options."