SIR Bernard Ingham, former press secretary to ex-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, has travelled all the way to York from his Surrey home to cure his migraine.

The gruff Yorkshireman, who recently took a special blood test, was on a quest to find out from the York Nutritional Laboratories (YNL) in Osbaldwick if the sample had revealed allergic resistance to any foods.

"I'm afraid it did," reported a rueful Sir Bernard as he was being whisked back to York railway station in a swish Jaguar belonging to YNL chief executive John Graham. "The tests suggested that bread, yeast, cocoa, eggs, haricot beans and various kinds of nuts may be to blame.

"Now I have to cut these from my diet to see if it has a positive effect. Bread will be the hardest. I love bread."

Sir Bernard, who for most of his life has suffered migraine attacks, as well as czema and asthma, said he was first attracted to allergy testing when Mr Graham gave him a lift to York Station from Scarborough to give a talk to the East Coast Exports Group.

He became so fascinated by the work being carried out by the 1999 Evening Press Business of the Year that he decided not only to take the test but to travel to the laboratories and the YNL administrative office at Bishopthorpe to see how he could help to spread the word about the organisation.

Had he told Mrs T about his affliction? "Oh, you don't bother her with things like that," he said.

Updated: 10:48 Thursday, March 07, 2002