Amy Winehouse is refusing to return to the UK unless she can bring back a St. Lucian chef.

The troubled singer - who is living on the Caribbean island while she writes new material - has already started asking native cooks to move back to London with her.

A friend of the 'Rehab' star said: "She often eats St. Lucian feasts courtesy of one of her favourite restaurants, The Pier at the Sandals Halcyon resort. She has had her friends make enquiries with some of the chefs at Sandals and some other restaurants on the island. That way, being back will not be too hard to deal with.

"One of Amy's favourite things about St. Lucia is the food and she'd love to have that as a reminder of the island when she is back in the UK."

The source explained to the thisislondon website: "She really doesn't look after herself when she is back in London, and is always skipping meals.

Amy's love of Caribbean food is well documented.

Last year, it was reported she had written a series of new tracks about her favourite foods, with meatballs and chicken jerk both getting mentions.

A source said at the time: "When Amy's working she gets loads of Caribbean food delivered to the studio. It can get a bit messy sometimes. But that's where Amy gets her soul from - good old-fashioned soul food."