Friend of Colonel Sanders who owns copy of secret KFC recipe says brand has ‘ruined’ its product

A personal friend of Colonel Sanders, who brought KFC to the UK decades ago, says he will never eat at the fast food chain again, claiming the brand has "ruined" its product.

Raymond Allen, 87, became one of the Colonel's friends at a Chicago conference 50 years ago, the UK Telegraph has reported.

He opened the first KFC restaurant in the UK, and helped the brand become a success in the old country.

However, Mr Allen has vowed to never eat the famous fried chicken again.

"I don't use it and I think it is dreadful," he said.

"The company has ruined the product.

"Instead of staying with one good thing that was sellable, they have tried to compete with the other fast food units. They should have just stuck with the chicken."

Mr Allen owns a handwritten copy of the Colonel's famed 11 herbs and spices recipe, which he kept locked in a safe.

"I think there are 11 herbs and spices but I can't remember it off the top of my head so I couldn't tell you even if I wanted to," he said.

"I have no idea how much it is worth but I would never sell it."