Lack of dough encourages Brits to home bake

The credit crunch is having at least one positive outcome for UK families, it has been pointed out - it is encouraging them to bake their own bread again.

According to bread flour supplier Allinson, sales of bread making and culinary flour have risen by 50 per cent in the past month as families seek to reduce their food bills amid supermarket price rises.

The firm attests that a home made loaf could cost up to a third less than one purchased from a shop, making it an attractive option for families whose finances are stretched by the current economic climate.

Meanwhile, Asda reports that sales of all kinds of baking paraphernalia have risen, with demand for mixing bowls up 35 per cent and electronic scales and aprons also being snapped up.

Vanessa Day-English, brand manager for Allinson, commented: "The credit crunch has made families think again about cooking; home-made means cheaper but it also means you know where your food comes from and what's in it."

Research carried out for the BBC recently revealed that food prices in the UK's supermarkets and shops have risen by 8.3 per cent since January.

Breads and cereals saw an increase of 15.9 per cent on the year, up from 11.9 per cent in June, according to the Office for National Statistics.