WOULD-BE chef and East Lancashire MP Gordon Prentice wants the Millennium Dome in London to provide a taste of British regional cooking.

The Pendle Labour back-bencher wants Lancashire hotpot, Cumberland sausage and other local delicacies put on the menu.

He is alarmed that one of the 37 restaurants in the Greenwich turn of the century spectacular would be McDonalds' 1000th outlet.

He told Rossendale and Darwen and dome Minister MP Janet Anderson: "But why can't we celebrate the great culinary traditions of this country and savour all the regional delicacies?"

She said there will be plenty of opportunity for visitors to taste regional dishes in the dome. Mr Prentice wants to make sure that haggis, curry and and fish and chips are also available alongside burgers.

Mr Prentice, who lists cooking as one of his relaxations said: "I don't want the dome to just be full of McDonalds and other standardised international cooking.

"I want to see the real regional food of Britain including Lancashire hotpot, Cumberland sausage and haggis from my native Scotland.

"I also want to see the variety of curries which are now our favourite national food as well as traditional fish and chips made available.

"This is a great opportunity for the wide range of British cooking to be showcased and it must not be missed."

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