The hunt is on to find the nation's biggest chocolate lover.

And the prize for the winning chocoholic? A dream day out in York, the city of chocolate itself - with as much of the stuff as you can eat.

The nationwide search has been launched to tie in with the Chocolate exhibition currently on show at York's Castle Museum.

But there is a good chance the winner will come from Yorkshire.

A recent survey found that women in Yorkshire were the biggest chocoholics in the country.

It's not just women, though, who have the chocolate bug.

York dad-of-two Gary Sullivan just can't get enough of the stuff and admits to a major weakness for King Size Mars Bars.

"I eat one a day," confesses the 32-year-old from Dringhouses. "But I am trying to cut down to get into shape for the new football season."

The passion for chocolate was instilled at an early age, says Gary.

"I used to live in Rowntree Avenue and my bedroom used to overlook Rowntrees. I would wake in the morning to the smell of Mint Aero wafting into my room.

"I also worked at Terry's, where we could eat as much chocolate as we liked while at work. My shift started at 7.30am and by 9.30am I'd eaten three Chocolate Oranges."

Claire Ramus, one of the competition organisers, admits only serious chocoholics have a chance of winning the top prize which is a break for two in York complete with a visit to the Nestl Rowntree factory, as much chocolate as they can eat and a flight in the KitKat hot air balloon. The prize also includes a visit to the Chocolate exhibition.

Claire said: "We're after proper addiction, not just one bar a day. It's got to be people who eat chocolate for breakfast, lunch and tea - the works."

Addicts might also reveal unusual habits linked to chocolate eating, or what emotions and situations leads them to reach for a bar or two.

Chocoholics should sent their stories to Claire at The Barr Agency, Brookfoot Court, Brookfoot Mills, Low Lane, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 5PU by August 10. Or use e-mail: chocolate@barr-agency.demon.co.uk.

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