A MAN who turned down a gig with The Beatles in the Sixties has seen his ambitions mushroom after publishing a book about the fungi food with his wife.

Joe Lenart, 57, of Park Close, Penwortham Park, Preston, was a member of a band called The Atoms when they were offered the gig at the town's public hall.

"When we turned down the gig The Beatles were just a good Liverpool group, but by the time the booking came round they had hit number one in the charts," he said.

After leaving music behind, Joe, who came to England in 1947 with his Polish parents, met and married his wife Jadwiga, also born of Polish parents, who was living in Southport and training to be a teacher.

Joe inherited his love of cooking from his father and says he decided to write the book, We Are The Champignons, after becoming frustrated by what he called "poncey television chefs preparing so-called mushroom recipes".

"My wife and I get this real thrill out of collecting and cooking mushrooms, and now writing about them," he said.

The book highlights ten of the most edible wild mushrooms available all round Britain, and features tips on where to find them, how to recognise them and the best time to pick them.

We Are The Champignons, published by Flying Machine General Trading Company, is available, priced £6.50 plus £1.05 postage and packing, from J and J Lenart, 30 Park Close, Penwortham Park, Preston, PR1 9YA.