IF CHOCOLATE be the food of love, then it could explain a baby boom at Beeches confectioners in Deepdale, Preston.

Over the past year, no fewer than 14 bouncing babies have been born to staff from the fancy packing department - and four more are on the way!

And from that mammoth delivery, just three have been boys.

Perhaps the baby-chain stems from the chocs churned out, available at discount to staff - a deal which goes down very well, the mums have admitted!

General manager Ian Greenall said: "Nothing in chocolate affects fertility but it's said to be an aphrodisiac. It's a very sexy food so maybe that has something to do with it. It's quite a surprising coincidence."

Alicia Croft set the trend last June when she gave birth following an Easter egg binge, she says. Two days later, Shelly Richards brought Leah into the world, and then the production line went into overdrive with a string of baby girls arriving one after the other.

Sisters Jackie and Karen Heffer has their babies three days apart in May, with other sis Kath Heffer giving birth to her little lass five months earlier.

Varsha Patel started her maternity leave last week and three pregnant friends will follow suit soon. None yet know the gender of their babies.

Unfortunately, Beeches have no plans to open a creche...

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