Naturalist Chris Packham has offered to mentor Jeremy Clarkson through a challenge to eat a vegan diet in January.

The pair have previously waged a war of words when they clashed over veganism and Taylor Swift using private jets.

But taking to X, formerly Twitter, Mr Packham said: "Happy New Year!

"I know I’m getting in early but 2024 is coming to an end. 2025 is starting tomorrow, January 1, which also means it is Veganuary - a chance for us all to explore the opportunities of plant-based diet to address some of the problems presented by the meat and dairy industry.

"Now recently, one of my colleagues, fellow broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson, has suffered a bout of ill health down to heart disease - a very serious issue.

"And also, he’s expressed a dislike for slaughtering animals. So Jeremy, I’d like to issue a personal invitation. Why don’t you take part in Veganuary this year? We know that plant-based is a better diet when it comes to heart disease, and of course it completely eradicates the need to slaughter any animals. It's a win-win."

The BBC presenter, 63, added: "I will personally mentor you through the month if you will join in. You’re most welcome to pop down here for one of [my partner] Charlotte’s tofu butter curries. I know what you’re thinking but let me tell you if you had one mate you’d be selling them in your pub in no time at all.

"So come on Jeremy, let’s do it. Let’s do it for our health. Let’s do it for those animals and let’s do it for the planet.”

Mr Clarkson revealed in October he underwent a heart procedure after he experienced a "sudden deterioration" in his health.

The 64-year-old owner of Diddly Squat Farm had symptoms of feeling "clammy", a "tightness" in his chest, and "pins and needles" in his left arm after returning from a holiday.

Clarkson, who presents the TV programme Clarkson's Farm, said he went to hospital in an ambulance and had a stent fitted, which opens up narrowed or blocked arteries.

In July, Mr Packham criticised the pop singer Taylor Swift's frequent use of private jets.

In a newspaper column, Mr Clarkson went on to write that it was "hard to keep up" with Mr Packham’s "pontifications" and claimed his comments to the "Cruel Summer" singer amounted to "bullying".

He went on to claim that Mr Packham’s criticisms of Swift prove that he "has no knowledge of what it’s like to be properly famous".