1. Set oven to 220oc. Place the oats, wholemeal flour, sugar and salt in a bowl. Sift in the baking soda and self raising flour.

2. Melt the treacle and butter together and cool to room temperature. Make a well in the centre of the dry mixture and add the treacle mixture and buttermilk.

3. Mix to a loose dough. Turn onto a floured surface. Knead lightly into a ball and transfer to a floured baking tray.

4. Flatten slightly and make a cross in the centre with a knife.

5. Bake at 220oc for 10 minutes then lower the heat to 140oc for a further 40 minutes or until the bottom of the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.

Cool on a wire rack. Great served warm with soup or just with butter and jam.