The Echo can today explain a riddle that has puzzled villagers for weeks.

Confused families in Great Wakering have spotted a series of signs appearing in the window of the White Hart pub, in the village's High Street.

A fortnight ago, passers-by noticed a sign that read: "Restaurant closed, chef gone to Brighton for the day". This was followed soon after by another reading: "Restaurant closed due to staff illness".

Finally this weekend was the intriguing: "Cook wanted. Reward offered."

Colin O'Connor, landlord of the White Hart, has now lifted the lid on the rather unusual series of signs.

He told the Echo: "A couple of weeks ago, the old chef, Katie, told us she wanted to go to Brighton and so we decided to let people know why we weren't doing food that day.

"Then a few days later she called in sick and I didn't want to lie so I put up another sign just to let people know."

When his former chef quit, however, he was left with a bigger problem.

Mr O'Connor said: "We needed a new chef, so rather than just putting up a boring sign saying apply within or something like that I wanted to do something more eye catching."

The plan has obviously worked, as Mr O'Connor was able to recruit a new chef on Monday.

He said: "This young chap came in who had just been made redundant, asked for a reward and my wife gave him the job.

"I always think it's best to laugh about things and lots of people came into the pub and said the signs had made them laugh, so that's good.

"Basically I just like messing about and can never take anything too seriously.

"I wanted to let people in the village know what was happening so thought the signs would be a good way to get people talking."