Considering the current bad diet of convenience and ready made foods, I really dont think a sticky pudding every now and then in an otherwise healthy diet can cause any harm...

S. Martin, Ireland,

Food education is all very well, but the adage "a little of what you fancy does you good" still holds true. Puddings are soul food! All yummy puddings are easy to make (any car boot sale or second hand bookshop will produce older recipe books full of ideas), so there's no need to be dictated to by supermarket managers or other food suppliers or diet fanatics. Certainly, here in Germany no one even knows about our wonderful British tradition, but you should see them tuck into my apple crumble!

fayanne, Herdecke, Germany

What a shame that these puddings are becoming so rare. I just love a good apple crumble and custard but it is so hard to find nowadays.

John, Guildford, UK

I think that Bird's have lost market share to ready made custards and the British pud is alive and loved.

Fred Hunt, London,

My wife and I spent some time in Henley on Thames about 10 years ago. My wife still remembers the sticky pudding we had at the Red Lion and how she misses it!!

Morgan, Sherwood, Oregon, USA

What? How can you not like Jam Roly Poly?
As an expat living in Spain I miss being able to get my traditional puddings.
What is needed is Jamie Oliver to start a 'bring back the puddings' campaign.
OK they're full of sugar and could lead to childhood obesity, but what the hell? My kids (7 and 11) love them.

Paul Brown, La Romana, Spain

For some years I owned a fairly famous 'gastro pub' in the Derbyshire Dales with a terrifically varied and comprehensive menu from traditional favourites through Mediterannean, Eastern etc., fish, meat, game, vegetarian, the whole spectrum. Our pudding menus also catered for the diet-concious through to the self-indulgent and without exception the favouites were good old fashioned puds - roly-poly, treacle sponge, bread & butter, 70's favourite Crepe Suzette! and whilst people may shun these gems when cooking at home, restaurant menu planners should take heed. People out enjoying themselves, will, in the main ignore their diets for an evening 'off' and enjoy something they would feel guilty of preparing and eating at home. Long live puddings, give diners what they want, not what fashion hype dictates!

Phil Clutton, Chester, Cheshire