Nigella denies will-plan stories

Nigella Lawson said she would not leave her children "destitute"

TV chef Nigella Lawson has denied that she plans to leave her children out of her will so they learn to value money.

The mother-of-two told My Weekly magazine she disagreed with husband Charles Saatchi who she said believed in leaving money to offspring.

However, in a statement on her website she said the story that developed did not accurately reflect her intentions.

Lawson said the original comment was about her belief in working hard in order to learn the value of money.

Will details

The statement said: "You might have noticed in the press that I have (apparently) cut my children out of my will, cruel mother that I am.

I want to set the record, not least to spare my children continuing embarrassment Nigella Lawson

"Of course I have no intention of leaving my children destitute and starving - rather, this is a story that came from a comment I made about my belief that you have to work in order to learn the value of money."

Lawson said she had always said of her children that they would have to support themselves through work, as she did.

She had never discussed the details of her will with anyone, she added.

The statement continued: "The story that has been circulating is not a true reflection of my intentions and, although I'd normally ignore it, I want to set the record, not least to spare my children continuing embarrassment."

'Ruins people'

Lawson, 48, and art collector Saatchi have a combined fortune worth an estimated £110m.

She has a daughter Cosima, 13, and son Bruno, 11, from her marriage to journalist John Diamond, who died in 2001. Saatchi, 64, has a daughter Phoebe from a previous marriage.

She was quoted in My Weekly as saying: "I am determined that my children should have no financial security. It ruins people not having to earn money.

"I argue with my husband Charles, because he believes that you should be able to leave money to your children. I think we'll have to agree to disagree."