Credit Crunch

A Devon dairy has come up with a novel take on the current economic gloom.

Langage Farm near Plymouth has created a new ice cream called Credit Crunch.

The new flavour, which is 20% cheaper than other Langage ice creams, was created at the farm's site at Smithaleigh and consists of vanilla ice cream with praline almonds in a cherry sauce

"We haven't stinted on quality, Credit Crunch is made from the finest milk from our Jersey and Guernsey cows but we did decide to drop the price as we all know every penny counts," said Paul Winterton from the dairy.

It contains cherry sauce and praline almonds

He said the taste is based on a cherry bakewell tart: "Cherry to match the red faces of the economists and praline almonds, because we all think the situation is a little nuts."

The dairy - which employs 45 local people - has been producing ice cream since 1986 and now has a herd of over 300 Guernsey and Jersey cows and an annual turnover of £3.5m.

Langage Farm itself has been a working farm for 900 years and even gets a mention in the Domesday Book.

But does Paul think people will dismiss the idea as a bit flippant in the light of rising fuel costs and interest rates?

"It is really difficult out there for businesses and families at the moment," he said.

"The idea is that we are being a bit light-hearted about things - hopefully this will make a few people smile."