TRADITIONAL recipes and culinary tales from around Eastleigh are needed for a new book which will lift the lid on local food and drink.

The book will be available in time for the second Hamble Food and Drink Festival on June 28 to July 6 run by Hamble Valley Tourism.

One of the stories unearthed so far is the origin of Fair Oak. The village got its name from the annual fair held near the big oak tree every June - first person to pitch a stall would collect a key from the Old George Inn which at the end of the event could be exchanged for a gallon of beer.

A feast to celebrate the Chandler's Ford cherry harvest was banned in the 19th century after celebrations fuelled by homebrew got out of hand.

Some of the recipes collected so far are for Botley pudding that dates from the 19th century, and crab and prawn mouse from the Concorde Club - no doubt an improvement on the meals served there when it was a school. Mucky mud dip was donated by Manor Farm, Strawberry open tart from Shamblehurst Manor - once a major strawberry farm - and wholemeal fruit cake from Hampshire's only working windmill at Bursledon.

Organisers are particularly interested in hearing about recipes from Fair Oak and Netley, they also need more oyster dishes. If you can help, contact Jo Cooper on 023 8068 8213 or e-mail her at joanne.cooper@eastleigh.gov.uk.