THERE are some things so synonymous with each other that you can’t imagine them not being together.

Laurel without Hardy, salt without vinegar, Scotland without heart disease.

But this week news broke that one such union is to be torn asunder.

McDonalds, they of burger fame, are opening two new restaurants in India.

“So what?’’ I hear you mutter.

But they are to be vegetarian, dear reader.

According to the AFP news agency, McDonald’s will open the first vegetarian outlet in the middle of next year, near the Golden Temple in the Sikh holy city of Amritsar in northern India.

Religious authorities forbid meat to be consumed at the shrine and Hindus see cows as sacred and avoid beef while Muslims view pigs as unclean and avoid pork.

It doesn’t sound like a winner for McDonald’s to be honest.

And it’s the staff I feel sorry for.

Ronald in his big shoes will feel out of place.

There’ll be slim picking for Hamburglar and as for how Mayor McCheese will cope, I simply can’t imagine.

We’ll see just how powerful those golden arches are as a brand when one of their USPs is taken away.

And now the regular question: “Would you like fries with that ... salad?”