THE WIFE of Harwich’s MP has apologised for accusing “poor people” of not being able to cook in the wake of an urgent appeal to help stock vital foodbanks before Christmas.

Baroness Jenkin, who is part of the all-party parliamentary inquiry into hunger in the UK, made the controversial comment during the launch of a report into stamping out hunger.

She said: “Poor people don’t know how to cook. I had a large bowl of porridge today which cost 4p. A large bowl of sugary cereals will cost you 25p.”

But Baroness Jenkin has now apologised for causing any offence.

She said: “If you are living on a tight budget, it is cheaper to cook from scratch. But society as a whole has lost a lot of its cooking skills.”

This week food banks across Tendring have called for donations.

A food drive is being held at Sainsbury’s in Clacton High Street, on Friday.

Supplies donated to food banks in the area will be shared out across Harwich, Manningtree, Clacton and Walton.