Shield for Naked Chefs

It's not a problem Delia Smith or Nigella Lawson could suffer from - but it has produced a few F-words from Gordon Ramsay in the past.

Now a heat-proof reflective shield has been invented to combat a common kitchen nightmare - overheated testicles.

The problem was featured on Ramsay's Channel 4 show, The F-Word, after tests on his chefs found their sperm counts were reduced by working in steamy, hot kitchens.

Inventor Paul O'Dwyer saw the programme and set to work designing a reflective shield at his County Durham-based company Coolberries. The shield slips into the front of an apron and deflects heat away from a chef's most tender area.

It is also fitted with an ice pack to keep the reproductive organs cool in the hottest kitchens. Mr O'Dwyer said: 'They conducted tests on Gordon's male chefs and their sperm counts were lower than average. The conclusion was that radiated heat from ovens was damaging male fertility.'

Mr O'Dwyer does not claim his invention boosts fertility, it simply protects the testicles from heat. Aspokesman for Ramsay said he would not wear one.