A Blackburn Rovers fan got a nasty surprise when he cut inside his 40th birthday cake courtesy of a cheeky prank from his wife. 

Birthday boy Ashley's wife is a Burnley FC fan - Rovers' fiercest rivals - and decided to prank her husband at his party last weekend by making a secret request to a local baker.

After cutting into the football-themed cake, adorned with the Blackburn Rovers club crest, blue and white icing - the club colours - as well as candles, he discovered  the inside of the cake wasn't what he was expecting.

The icing inside the cake, rather than being your typical white, was instead in the claret and blue colours of Burnley, the crafty prank his wife had pulled on him.

One Rovers fan who was sent a photo of the cake by his sister said he would be "unable to eat the cake" with it having Clarets colours inside, but loved the prank and banter.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Posting the pictures on X, formerly known as Twitter, Matthew Stanger said: "I think it's a great prank.

"As a Rovers fan, I wouldn't be able to eat it seeing the claret & blue frosting, but you have to respect the banter."

Lancashire Telegraph:

It was reported Ashley found it funny when they cut into the cake, with other users sharing the same sentiment.

Dan Clough said: "Hope there's no allergic reactions!"

Men in Blazers wrote: "A new form of rival s#!thousery has been born."

@hiddenfortune66 said: "The kind of pettiness you can get behind."

Rachel McCann said: "This is the perfect type of football pettiness ! Love it."

Michael Hannaway: "It’s just not natural …. Claret and blue!!?"

The East Lancashire derby was reignited last season when Burnley returned to the Championship, but it wasn't a happy return for Rovers who lost both games, with the home tie having the cruel addition of seeing their rivals win the league at Ewood Park.

The Clarets have won the last six encounters between the two sides, and Rovers will have to wait at least until next season - unless they are brought together in the cup - for the possibility of getting revenge, following Burnley's promotion to the Premier League.