AN ACCLAIMED Christmas pudding by celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal is being auctioned for charity and has already attracted bids of �150.

The �13.99 Waitrose Hidden Orange Christmas Pudding has become a festive phenomenon and demand is so high it has started to appear on eBay for hundreds of pounds.

Colchester’s mayor Sonia Lewis has persuaded the town’s Waitrose store in St Andrews Avenue to donate one of the must-have puddings, which serves 12, so it can be auctioned for charity.

Store manager Alec Fordham said: “About 25,000 Christmas puddings were made and there are probably only a handful left on the shelves up and down the country.

“There’s nothing quite like it in the market place and almost as soon as they came into the stores they were gone.

“We still have customers coming in asking for them, but we have sold out in Colchester.

“We were delighted to be able to find one for the mayor and I hope that it will raise a lot of money for her charities.”

In an advert for the pudding Blumenthal said: “The candied orange in the middle of this incredibly moist Christmas pudding makes it very special.

“As it cooks, the essential oils from the orange peel infuse the nuts and fruit from the inside out producing a wonderfully aromatic Christmas pudding.”

Mrs Lewis said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Waitrose for their kind donation and also to wish all those taking part in the online auction the very best of luck. It is all for a good cause.”

The mayor’s charities include the Army Benevolent Fund, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Scouts & Guides, the Neurology Group and other local community organisations.

Bidding for the pudding started at 1pm on Monday and currently stands at �150. The closing date is next Monday, with bidding set to end at 1pm. To bid, e-mail mayor@colchester.gov.uk. People can enter as many times as they like and daily updates as to the highest bid will be provided on the homepage of the borough council’s website: www.colchester.gov.uk.