THE favourite takeaway dish in Braintree is sweet and sour chicken, according to a food delivery service.

A new report published by Just Eat shows the classic Chinese dish is a top hit in the Braintree district.

The study into the eating habits of Braintree, Witham and Halstead residents found Chow Mein to be the next most popular dish, while Chinese food claimed a clean sweep on the podium with Chinese Beef the third favourite.

Just East says one in four residents in our district would choose sweet and sour chicken when ordering a takeaway.

The top dishes are:

1. Sweet & Sour Chicken

2. Chow Mein

3. Chinese Beef

4. Chicken Tikka Masala

5. Fish & Chips

6. Chicken Korma

7. Sausage

8. Doner Kebab

9. Chicken Kebab

10. Crispy Duck

The data produced by Just Eat found Braintree broke the national trend, which suggested Italian cuisine was the most popular in the UK.

Managing director Graham Corfield said: "The kebab is still king on many UK high streets, but takeaway trends are being shaken up by adventurous eaters looking to sample the hottest new cuisine and healthier, more conscious foodies opting for leaner options.

"Vegan is the fastest growing cuisine ordered on Just Eat last year, with orders growing by 1500% across the UK. We also saw a much bigger appetite for Cantonese cuisine and Nigerian food."

To view the data in full, visit www.just-eat.co.uk/campaigns/top-popular-dishes/.