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Phil Barnett, Sir Patrick Cormac MP, Louis Barnett, mum Mary and Prime Minister Gordon Brown

CHOCOLATES made by Kinver's own young Willy Wonka have been given the seal of approval by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Teenaged entrepreneur Louis Barnett, who started his own chocolate-making empire Chokolit in his parents garage, was invited to the House of Commons to meet the PM.

Mr Brown congratulated the 16-year-old on his meteoric success since news of his hand-made chocolates-in-a-box spread around the world.

The teenager told the News: "It was a bit of a whirlwind. To think I've sat down with the Prime Minister in his private office is a bit surreal.

"He opened the box and said he'd eat them later on. He was also asking about the production and how I came up with the idea, and he thought it was fantastic that I'd overcome adversity."

Louis, from Enville Road, began making chocolates when his parents Phil and Mary took him out of school due to problems with dyslexia, but his disability didn't hamper his will to succeed - and the enterprising youngster, now sponsored by chocolate giant Callebaut, is fast on track to becoming the best chocolatier in the land.

The teenager and his proud parents were introduced to the PM by South Staffordshire MP Sir Patrick Cormac, who officially opened Louis's new Chokolit factory in Bridgnorth in December.

Sir Patrick - who has hailed Louis as a "remarkable young man with great flair and ability" - also introduced the Barnetts to Conservative Party leader David Cameron on the same day.

Louis said: "He almost tucked into them while I was there, but he said he was meeting French President Nicolas Sarkozy after and he'd get them out later - so it's quite nice to think they've been eaten by some important people."

Louis, who has had a whirlwind 12 months since his chocolates were snapped up by Sainsbury's and Waitrose, is getting set to launch a new charity chocolate bar called Biting Back, which will give wildlife charities trying to save orangutans a boost.

He has also been in talks with Dragon's Den entrepreneur Peter Jones after meeting him on ITV's This Morning show.

5:39pm Friday 28th March 2008

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