The lemon with a twist... it's pip-free

You could call it a bitter-sweet breakthrough.

A chance find by a farmer has led to the development of the world's first seedless lemon.

What it lacks in pips it makes up for in juiciness and convenience.

For perfectionist bar staff who like to ensure bits of seed don't end up in customers' cocktails it is a significant step forward.

Indeed, some are calling it the most important lemon development since the fruit arrived in Europe 900 years ago.

A natural mutation of the Eureka variety, it was discovered by a South African farmer 10 years ago.

Using grafting techniques he built up an orchard large enough to market the lemon internationally.

The Seedless Eureka will be on sale here early next year.

Its arrival is eagerly awaited at the Savoy Hotel.

Roymon George, supervisor at the American Bar, said: "Nobody wants to gulp down a pip when they're enjoying a gin and tonic. We're careful to take seeds out when we slice our lemons, but it is time-consuming."

The seedless lemon is also said to be juicier than regular lemons. Previous efforts to launch a similar fruit have failed because it proved impossible to guarantee they were seed-free.