THE humble Batchelors mushy pea has come of age and is celebrating its 21st birthday this week.

To mark the occasion Batchelors have delved into the fascinating history of the pea and discovered some quirky stories, including one featuring a housewife from Accrington.

Batchelors legend has it that she used a mixture of oatmeal and mushy peas to rid her of troublesome chilblains - and a decade later she has not had so much as an itch.

They may have a downmarket image as the food of "thick Northerners" but mushy peas are, in fact, an ideal treat for slimmers keeping an eye of their fat intake - a tin of peas contains only 0.1 per cent fat.

What's more, they are rich in starch, a slow-burning carbohydrate recommended as part of any healthy diet.

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