A Hockley vicar has cooked up a novel way to find new parishioners - he wants Delia Smith to give him a plug on her popular programme.

The TV cook has launched a new series which takes a look at basic cooking, and the nation is glued to the screen.

Critics condemned her after she showed how to boil an egg in the first episode - but it appears her viewers have taken her advice to heart.

Father Richard Seabrook, of St Peter and St Paul Church, remarked: "As blessed Delia has caused a 10 per cent increase in egg sales and sales of omelette pans have soared from 200 to 90,000, could she please mention the name of my church on her next series?

"We have plenty of seats."

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