Big Freeze: New crisis as council runs out of salt, cracked pepper, balsamic vinegar

Hundreds of diners in Islington were today forced to abandon their tables after the local authority ran out of vital condiments on a second day of ice and snow in the capital. Tonight there was little sign of much-needed deliveries of sea-salt, cracked pepper and balsamic vinegar and table service was left badly disrupted by the conditions. Furious restaurant owners have criticised the council's response to the crisis. "It's pretty outrageous," said one angry restaurateur. "We are even almost out of juniper infused oil and wasabi mayonnaise," he added.