An Austrian has won the right to be photographed wearing a pasta strainer for his driving licence on grounds of religious freedom.

Niko Alm announced the decision on his blog saying that after three years of struggle a psychologist had passed him fit drive and so he could wear the kitchen implement for the official picture.

A self-styled "pastafarian", Mr Alm said he belonged to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, which lampooned religion. "Today I was able to get my new driving licence, and in it you can clearly see that I'm wearing a colander on my head to demonstrate my allegiance to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster," Mr Alm wrote in his blog.

"My headwear has now been recognised by the Republic of Austria."

The spaghetti church was founded in 2005 in opposition to pressure on the Kansas school board in the United States to teach the theory of intelligent design in biology class as an alternative to evolution, and since then it has engaged in a light-hearted campaign against religion.

Key to the beliefs of pastafarians is that the world was created by the Flying Spaghetti Monster, but, owing to the monster being inebriated at the time of creation, it has a flawed design.

Pastafarians also believe heaven has a beer volcano and a factory producing strippers.

You've sold it to me! I'll have some of that                                                                                                                                                                             

I am a fully paid-up member                                                                                                                                                                             

Converted!                                                                                                                                                                             

Can we get BM Colanders instead of shirts at the Kiss Rally                                                                                                                                                                              

YEP  I'll av some of that !!                                                                                                                                                                              

I shall now worship in this church but i hope the spaghetti monster in't to big cos i get scared easy.......oh and can i have the job of oiling the strippers, please thank you.                                                                                                                                                                             

Dont stand inside the church during hot rain as its likely to collapse - but at least youll have a free lunch !!