Indian farmers are reportedly spraying their cotton and chilli fields with Coca-Cola to protect them from pests. They say it's much cheaper than chemical pesticides and just as effective at controlling bugs.

Hundreds of farmers are reported to have switched to cola because it's safe to handle, doesn't need to be diluted and is cheap. "I observed that the pests began to die after the soft drink was sprayed on my cotton," says Gotu Laxmaiah.

A spokesman for Coca-Cola said: "There is no scientific basis for this and the use of soft drinks for this purpose would be totally ineffective".