A NEW shop and activity centre geared towards young chocoholics has opened in Hawkshead.

Andrew and Fiona Wilson have become part of the small The Cocoabean Company franchise, offering chocolate workshops and selling confectionary to sweet-toothed customers.

Andrew, who has spent some 40 years working in the confectionary industry, said that the children's workshops have proven to be hugely successful.

"It gets very, very messy," he said. "We always have a lot of very happy children and parents."

Prior to this venture, Andrew had been the managing director of the Creative Confectionery company - a century-old Kendal mint cake and confectionery business based at Holme. It closed down in February

His wife, Fiona, heads up The Honeypot Deli in Hawkshead and Andrew believes that the couple's combined retail and chocolate experience puts them in a good position to make the business a success.

The new store has created seven new jobs so far, although Fiona has said that the couple are hopeful that they will be able to employ more over the busy summer holidays, depending on how things progress.

In the workshops, aimed at children between the ages of two and 18, those taking part can enjoy making and decorating chocolate shaped animals, create marshmallow treats and chocolate slabs.

"They get chocolate on their faces and even squirted into their mouths, if they want," Andrew said.

Andrew noted that although the experience was meant for children, he had been thinking about offering 'chocolate and Prosecco' evenings for chocolate-obsessed adults who felt like they were missing out on the fun.

Fiona, who says she has been 'splitting herself in two' as the couple work on setting up the new business but said the feedback so far has been 'really positive'.

She also said that the purple cow, situated outside the Main Street store, was causing quite the stir amongst visitors and residents.

"She's been photographed more times than the Queen at the moment!" Fiona said.