Elliot Holmes has just returned from a job that is every schoolboy's dream.

For the seven-year-old was selected by international sweet firm Haribo as an official product taster.

In an adventure reminiscent of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, he was part of a panel of testers who sucked, crunched and chewed their way through a range of sweets.

Along with nine other children from all over the country, the Middlesbrough youngster carried out his crucial function at the American Adventure Theme Park, Derbyshire, yesterday.

The testers, who were chosen after entering a competition in the Beano comic, sampled sweets from France, Spain, Germany and America and were then asked to rate them in a questionnaire.

Elliot's father Terry, of Hazel Grove, Marton, said: "Elliot's quite a fan of Haribo, and in the competition, he had to say in 100 words why he liked their sweets. He wrote a lovely poem, and about two months ago we got a letter saying he had won.

"They are quite big abroad and some brands haven't come into this country yet. There were 12 sweets altogether, and Elliot had to give a judgement on each."

After a morning of intensive tasting, the youngsters were whisked off to enjoy the rides.

Mr Holmes added: "Elliot likes Charlie and the Chocolate factory and you could liken the day to that."

As a memento, the panelists each received a year's supply of Haribo Starmix and a year's free membership of the Haribo Club.

And Elliot's verdict: "My favourite was a blue sweet with liquorice inside."