Maldon sea salt is attracting national acclaim thanks to celebrity chef Delia Smith -- and local chefs swear by it too!

Delia, who launched her new television series, Delia's How to Cook - Part Two, this week has been reported to have declared Maldon sea salt one of the ''essentials'' in her cupboard of ingredients.

Town centre manager Marion Wells who plans a sea salt themed month later in the year said: ''It's great publicity and puts Maldon on the map again.''

Manager of The Vinery in Maldon, Gavin White said: ''We like to use local suppliers and it's good quality stuff.''

Salt has been produced in Essex since pre-Roman times and thanks to Delia's endorsement, the Maldon company which has been in the Osborne family since the 1920s, can expect an increase in sales.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.