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It's one of the most technically advanced pieces of scientific equipment ever built, and some people think it's so powerful it could destroy the world. But it appears the Large Hadron Collider is no match for a humble toaster.

The £4 billion particle-collider in Geneva has once again be stopped from discovering the secrets of the origin of the Universe, not by another helium leak, or travelling back in time to kill itself - but by an errant chunk of baguette.

Boffins think a 'bread particle' was dropped by a bird into some of the outdoor equipment used by the LHC, causing an automatic shutdown sequence of the doomsday device.

The crusty bread - there is no word on sandwich filling - had paralysed a high voltage installation powering parts of the cryogenic cooling plant, causing the LHC to increase by 6C in temperature above its normal -238C.

This triggered the automatic shutdown, putting plans to speed up protons and smash them together, once again on hold. It is thought the device will be bread-free and running within a couple of days.

Are we the only ones who think some of the old British Rail guys must now be involved in CERN? -- because this sounds suspiciously like the sort of excuse rolled out for a delay to the 12.34 to Manchester.