1. Sift flour with baking soda and spices. Cream margarine and sugar, add treacle and mix well. Beat in eggs a little at a time with the flour mixture, and add buttermilk to form a soft consistency.

Stir in fruit and nuts. Turn mixture into a well greased and lined 2 lb. Loaf tin. Bake at 160 °C (320F, gas mark 3) for 75 minutes.