Four British tourists on holiday in Rome were charged €64 for four ice cream cones at Caffetteria Antica Roma on Via della Vite near the Spanish Steps, according to a report in Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera.

The two couples from Birmingham were charged €16 each on 5 May after ordering four take-away ice creams at the city-centre gelateria. One of the shocked tourists, Roger Bannister said "And when we paid, they didn't even say thank you."

The bar in question confirmed to the Corriere della Sera that the tourists had been charged €64 but defended its prices, which it pointed out are displayed clearly.

The story came to light after city councillor candidate Matteo Costantini witnessed the scene as he passed by. Describing it as a "scandal" Costantini said that if elected he would introduce a toll free number for people to report similar incidents.