Grease deep 20cm round cake pan. Line base with paper, grease paper.

Combine dates and water in pan, bring to boil, remove from heat, add soda, stand 5 minutes. Blend or process until smooth

Cream butter and sugar in small bowl with electric mixer until well combined. Beat in eggs 1 at a time.

Gently fold in sifted flour, then date mixture.

Pour mixture into prepared pan, bake in moderate oven about 55 minutes or until cooked through.

Cover pudding with foil if it becomes too dark during cooking. Stand pudding 10 minutes before turning onto wire rack over oven tray. Pour ¼ cup sauce over pudding, return to moderate oven, bake, uncovered, further 5 minutes.

Serve pudding with remaining sauce.

Combine all ingredients in pan, stir over heat, without boiling, until sugar is dissolved, then simmer, stirring, 3 minutes.