PRIME Minister Tony Blair likes meatballs and tomato sauce, while the Bishop of Bradford favours lamb with pureed spinach.

Bachelor boy Sir Jimmy Savile microwaves beans and soup while television quizmaster Richard Whiteley does something special with chicken.

As for the favourite dishes of Sir Cliff Richard, Freddie Trueman and Melvyn Bragg, fundraisers at Otley's Methodist Church are keeping them all under their hats.

As part of the church's £300,000 redevelopment fund, members are putting together a book of celebrity recipes.

And although they've not had much luck with the Queen and Prince Philip, recipes have been coming in thick and fast.

John Burland, church member, said: "Alan Furze spent a day in the library looking through Who's Who and sent off around 110 letters.

"So far we've had a good response, although we did have a letter back from Buckingham Palace to say the Queen and Prince Philip didn't do that sort of thing."

Sir Jimmy Savile's recipe was handwritten and came with a message for all single men.

"His single man's supper, breakfast or lunch was for beans and soup. You put it in a pint pot and stick it in the microwave, fantastic," said Mr Burland.

The book, which should be out in September, will include an introduction by the President of the Methodist Conference, Christina Moignan.

So far the church has raised £50,000 towards the appeal launched in September, 2000. It plans to bring the 100-year-old church up to date.

l LEFT: Otley Methodist Church minister the Rev Alistair Newton tries out one of the recipes held by church member Susan Ingham