JAMIE Oliver may have taken the twizzler out of turkey, but even he might have thought twice about getting the leopard out of the custard.

The intriguing image will be unravelled when county archivist Jennifer Gill talks about food, in the archives at Durham County Council's Clayport Library, at 2pm on Saturday, September 24.

Ms Gill said: "Food is a necessity of life. The archives reflect life, so it isn't surprising that food is reflected in the archives in many ways.

"The talk will feature mainly menus - including one with custard royal and the leopard sitting in it - and more recent menus, such as those for dinner parties in 1950s Barnard Castle.

"Recipes, which can be found in unexpected places and show changes in food fashions from the 1700s to the 1900s, will also feature."

Admission to the talk is by free ticket, available from Clayport Library, Durham City, on 0191-386 4003.

The talk coincides with Durham's first Local Food Celebration, which runs from September 24 to October 9, during British Food Fortnight.