Sales of Maldon's famous sea salt have shot up 70 per cent after a Government health warning calling on consumers to reduce their salt intake.

Steve Osbourne, from Maldon Crystal Salt, said: "I do think it is a response to the Government's warning about the high salt content in processed foods.

"Perhaps people are taking notice and going back to good home-cooked food where they can control the levels of salt.

"If you're cooking at home, you use the best and that's Maldon Salt."

Last week the The Food Standards Agency urged consumers to cut back to no more than six grams of salt a day in a bid to cut high blood pressure and reduce the strain on the NHS. The FSA said that about three-quarters of the salt people consumed is from processed foods.