TWO best friends and self-confessed chocoholics from Blackburn not only got their cake but ate it too!

Sandra Snape and Janet Jaderko, both 38, of Preston New Road, won dream jobs as official cake tasters for the dessert maker Sara Lee.

Following a nationwide search they were whisked off with eight others to the company's factory in York where they stuffed themselves silly.

They spent a gut-busting day, satisfying their sweet tooth on a range of top secret desserts the company is developing.

Their opinion will have a direct influence on the final products before they hit the supermarket shelves.

Sandra and Janet were chosen after they saw a story in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph in April. They wrote a letter explaining why they should be chosen and then forgot about it until they recently received confirmation.

They spent a day at the factory and shopping in York before returning to Blackburn in the evening.

Sandra, who works at Europrint Promotions, in Blackburn, said: "It's been absolutely brilliant. I've got a bit of a sweet tooth and been known to put away up to 20 chocolate bars in a week so this was a dream job."

Janet, a music student at Manchester University, who is partial to double chocolate gateau, said: "We're both runners and luckily don't seem to put on much weight. We're the sort that other women hate."

Antonia Cremin, marketing manager of Sara Lee, chose the Blackburn chocoholics for the tasting job.

She said: "We needed more than just those with a sweet tooth. Both Sandra and Janet are lively and they have dynamic personalities.

"They aren't afraid of speaking their minds and we needed a panel to give their honest opinion."

Sara Lee is planning to stage regular tastings with the panel. The next will be in early 2003 when Sara Lee unveils more new desserts.