IT is revered around the world as one of the great British delicacies - and confirmation of its status has just emerged in an on-line poll.

Yorkshire pudding was named as the UK’s favourite local food in a competition designed to get people thinking about food origins.

People were asked to nominate their top regional food or drink and in the on-line vote the Yorkshire Pudding beat 11 other regional finalists - includng the North-East’s chicken-and-cheese speciality the parmo.

The event was part of a new campaign to raise awareness of the Protected Geographical Indication status.

The PGI is a European-awarded quality mark for food produce which has a guaranteed regional origin.

Sor far there are 22 UK products with the coveted PGI status, including Wensleydale Cheese, Cornish Pasties and Melton Mowbray pork pies.

The first recorded recipe for what is now knoiwn as Yorkshire pudding was in 1737 when it was called “dripping pudding.”

It was first served as a starter to be eaten before a main meal to fill the family up when there was a short supply of meat.

Later it became known as Yorkshire pudding after becoming popular in the county and was soon a staple part of the traditional beef Sunday roast dinner.

Other regional finalists included Leigh-On-Sea cockles, London’s jellied eel, Devon cream tea, Lancashire hotpot and Kentish cobnuts.