Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5 and grease and flour two baking sheets.

Mix together the oats, flour, salt, bicarbonate of soda and mixed spice.

Cream the butter and dates in a bowl and beat in the pear and apple spread/purée, a little at a time. Beat in the oat mixture.

Place walnut sized portions of the mixture on a baking sheet, leaving a space of about 5cm/2in round each one. Flatten them slightly, with a fork.

Bake the biscuits for 15 minutes or until they are beginning to turn golden. Leave the biscuits on the baking trays until they are cool and firm.