The owner of a pie and mash shop has kicked out rumours that he has been commissioned to transport his popular pies across the Channel, to footballer, David Beckham.

Tony Lane, owner of Tony’s pie and mash shop, Waltham Abbey, hit the national news, this week, when the Daily Star claimed that Becks would be turning down fancy French eateries, in favour of posted pies.

The Daily Star reported that Mr Lane had been asked to start sending pies to David, at his new French club, Paris Saint-German.

The newspaper reported that Tony said:“No way will David survive on rich French food. An Englishman can’t live on frogs’ legs.

"We’ve already been told to send our pies over to France – and it’s not unusual. We did the same when he was at Madrid.

“My pie and mash has made David the fit man he is.”

The rumours were quickly quashed by the Waltham Abbey shop keeper who said that he had not made such claims.

He said: “If he asked me I would send him a pie, but it would be cold when it got there, and probably past its date.

“These days he comes in the shop. He has come in three times a week to make the most of it before he goes away, in the past.

“But no, I haven’t been asked to send pies to France. I’ve got no need to lie about it.”

In fact, Mr Lane says that business at home is great now that the traditional cockney cuisine has attracted a younger audience, something which he attributes to Becks’ passion for pies.

He added: “When we first opened the shop twenty years ago the customers were aged between 45 and 75, and now, we are getting kids coming in at about 12 years of age.

“I do believe that it is off of his back.”

Tony’s, which is based in Market Square, has become a celebrity haunt in recent years, now that customers include JLS, Paul Weller and members of the TOWIE cast.