Jamie Oliver has denied rumours that he wants to buy the Little Chef restaurant chain.

Earlier this year Fresh One, the celebrity chef's production company, pitched an idea for a TV series to executives at the ailing chain of motorway eateries.

However, a Fresh One representative insisted that Oliver played no part in the proposal, saying: "Fresh One did have an early conversation [about a TV show] but decided no further progress would be necessary. The idea that Fresh One had in mind did not involve Jamie.

"Jamie is not buying Little Chef and none of his companies are buying Little Chef," the representative added.

Little Chef went into administration in January, prompting private equity firm RCapital to step in to safeguard the chain's future.