A CHIP SHOP owner has come up with the ultimate food of love - a heart-shaped pizza for that very special person in your life.

Italy may be the traditional home of romantic lovers and pizza, but Beedle's Chippy, in Chilton, County Durham, appears to have struck gold with its Valentine's pizzas.

Created on a heart-shaped base, and including a secret ingredient, the pizzas have been selling like...well, hot cakes.

Shop owner Dave Beedle, who is also offering a half-heart pizza for divorcees, reckons he is on to a winning formula.

Mr Beedle, 40, said: "This started out as a bit of fun, but it has really taken off.

"I commissioned a heart-shaped pizza base and loaded them up with all sorts of traditional toppings, plus an extra added ingredient to spice up anyone's love life.

"We got the bases made for us by our bakers in Shildon, and they had to start baking them twice a day because the demand was so great."

Mr Beedle's edible love messages have not been restricted to pizza - he also offers customers heart-shaped garlic bread.

"But both people have to eat it together or there will be separation ," he warned.