A Western Daily Press journalist has begun a month-long experiment to see if she can survive entirely on locally-produced food and drink.

Chief reporter Ruth Wood is taking the 'buy local' concept to the extreme for Superlocalise Me.

During October nothing must pass her lips which has been grown, reared, processed, packaged or stored for distribution outside of the South West.

This means no coffee, no sugar, no olive oil and no chocolate - a tough task for a caffeine addict who can't cook.

Ruth, (31), said: "Vaguely inspired by the documentary Super Size Me about an American guy who lived on McDonalds meals for a month, I'm going to try living for a month on 100 per cent South West-sourced food and drink.

"During October, I will count my pennies to see if local food is as expensive as people say, and count my food miles as religiously as Bridget Jones counts calories."

To help her keep her motivated - and to ensure she doesn't cheat - Ruth (pictured) is keeping an online diary of what she eats and where she buys it from, and highlights will also appear in the WDP's free Saturday magazine West Country Life.

Readers can also share their tips and recipes on the paper's website, and there is information for readers who want help and advice on eating locally.

Ruth said: "I'm certainly not going hungry.

"It's going really well - except for the coffee cravings, the sugar cravings, the Monster Munch cravings and the utter spiralling despair of another night shift bereft of the vending machine. On the bright side I got a discount from a cider company.

"The Westcountry is fantastic for vegetable box schemes, farmers' markets and organic food. I'm eating really healthily, getting loads of fresh vegetables and fish and trying stuff I wouldn't normally touch such as pheasant."

To read more about Ruth's experiment visit www.westpress.co.uk/superlocalise.