A TASTE of the finest food and drink in the Chilterns came to the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday.

Three of Buckinghamshire's MPs, David Lidington, Cheryl Gillan and John Bercow, invited food and drink manufacturers from the county inside the Commons to showcase the best Bucks has to offer.

A steady queue of people went into the Jubilee Rooms to try a number of samples and supplies started to run out well before the end of the day.

MPs from other counties have held similar events to show off the best of their constituencies and it was felt it was time for Bucks to have its day.

Aylesbury MP Mr Lidington said: "These are producers the three of us have met in our constituencies over the years, visiting their premises and seeing them at farmer's markets and community shows.

"We thought they needed a wider audience. It shouldn't just be the big counties who should be allowed to showcase their local food."

Chesham and Amersham's MP Mrs Gillan said: "People take Buckinghamshire for granted. They think of it as just leafy suburbs, but it's a very entrepreneurial county. We have lots of business start-ups and we have lots of people whose livelihood depends on being in the country.

"They aren't huge multinationals but they have the potential to become some of the multinationals in the future.

"All of these businesses share a standard of quality of produce which is very high.

Two businesses from Wendover - the No 2 Pound Street deli and Rumsey's Chocolatier - were invited, along with Thame-based health bar manufacturer Nakd and the Aylesbury Escargot company.

Also at the event were Prestwood's Malt the Brewery - which was officially opened by Mrs Gillan last year - Beechdean Ice Cream and Chartridge-based Chiltern Ridge Apple Juice.