SOUPS are much underrated as a food. A homemade bowlful of hearty flavours can't be beaten on a cold day, especially if accompanied with a hunk of fresh bread.

One Poole RNLI Lifeboat crewman’s hearty soup finds its way on to shop shelves across the country this month.

Robin Goodlad’s chipolte chilli bean and chorizo recipe is set to raise at least £6,000 for the RNLI after he won the New Covent Garden soup company’s Soup of the Month competition to find the nation’s favourite flavours.

Robin told the Echo this week: “After a cold trip to sea, there’s nothing more a lifeboat crew member could want than the subtle warmth of chipolte, with beans and crispy chorizo."

You can pick up a carton, priced about £2.20, at supermarkets nationwide.

Visit rnli.org.uk or newcoventgarden soup.com for further details.

Do you have a favourite recipe? Let us know in the comments below.