A SAUCY Swindon culinary favourite left a Government minister red faced.

Ed Balls, the schools secretary, got a little hot under the collar during a visit to Drove Primary School yesterday.

He was in the town to promote multiculturalism in schools and while here sampled chilli potatoes – a favourite of many of the children at Drove.

To the giggling delight of many of the pupils around him, who were quite comfortable with the spicy food, a coughing Mr Balls said: “Is the food here always so hot?”

After enjoying the meal the minister spoke of his appreciation for the multicultural school where pupils speak more than 30 languages.

He said: “I have heard that if there was one school I should come to see multiculturalism in action it is this one.

“Our Government is hoping to see schools open more often than between 9am and 3pm, including the evenings and weekends, getting parents more involved and engaging in the community.

“This is a multicultural school with many languages and they’re doing it so well.

“It is complex but it is working very well within the community.”

However he refused to be drawn on other Swindon issues including if the proposed university should be built on a greenfield – when an earmarked brownfield site in the town centre is already available.

He said: “My view on that issue is that it would be brilliant for Swindon to get a university, but all decisions regarding that should be done locally not centrally. But if it does come it will raise aspirations of the pupils in this school and others in Swindon.”

Mr Balls also stopped by Churchfields School, which receives extra Government funding to improve results, to inspect the school’s ICT facilities and meet students.