Sweet success seems certain for a new range of goodies aimed to appeal to "flavour cravers".

York-based Nestl Rowntree has launched three special editions for a limited period - orange Smarties (28p), which the company says are out due to public demand as orange is the most popular flavour; the equally favoured black and red sweets - blackberry, blueberry, strawberry and raspberry - from Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles (30p); and also a plain chocolate version of the Kit Kat (27p).

But were the chocolate experts right about their multi-million pound promotion?

We went to York's Museum Gardens to ask the people relaxing in the afternoon sun.

Seven-year-old Anna Wrigley-Howe, of Vyner Street, York, said she liked purple Smarties best, but she and her brother Tom, nine, both gave a thumbs-up to the orange variety.

They approved of the pastilles too, with Anna saying she particularly liked the black ones.

Visitors Andrew Watts, 14, and Steven Watts, 11, from Crewe, both started off by saying they liked all shades of Smarties, but after trying the orange kind they agreed they were rather special.

Andrew said: "They've got an orange flavour to them; the others just taste of chocolate."

Two-year-old Katherine Dobbie, from Glasgow, who had spent a week in Scarborough with parents Ken and Isobel, didn't have much to say but she made it clear she was happy with the orange Smarties.

Sarah Ibbotson and Helen Jones, both of Badger Hill, York, approved of the orange Smarties, Sarah saying: "I think this will definitely go down well."

They also liked the pastilles range, with Helen particularly rating the blueberry ones. But neither of them liked the idea of the dark chocolate KitKat.

Joanne Hunter from Sunderland was also unsure about the KitKats, saying she would prefer a white chocolate version. She said she would buy the orange Smarties rather than tubes of different colours. Anthony Holmes and Linda Wilson, from Millom in Cumbria, both liked the Smarties and pastilles, Linda saying: "The orange chocolate is lovely."

But again neither liked the idea of the plain chocolate KitKat.

The dark KitKat finally found a fan in the form of Dian Halliday, of Market Weighton, who said she liked it, though she added: "I normally prefer milk chocolate."

Alan Moody, also from Market Weighton, said he had always preferred orange Smarties, though he thought the dark KitKat was "too strong".

But Danielle Moody, from Hull, also liked the new KitKat, and Sophie Moody, also from Hull, proved a fan of the pastilles.

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