Rationing renewed in battle of the bulge

A London sweet shop is using ration books as the latest weapon in the fight against childhood obesity.

Parents write a daily allowance in the retro-styled booklets and children get them stamped when they spend it at Hope and Greenwood, in East Dulwich, south east London.

The scheme has been a runaway success both with sweet-toothed kids and their health-conscious parents since it was introduced at the 1950s-style confectionary emporium in November last year, with hundreds of books being sold.

Even adults are getting in on the craze, with some being given a daily ration by their mother or partner.