IT'S the middle of summer... it's a burning hot day and you need refreshment now!

What will you choose to quench your thirst?

Well, if Preston lad James Cotton had his way, you'd be drinking a cool, refreshing glass of .... Toxic Tango!

James, 14, a pupil at Broughton High School, has come second out of 4,000 in Project Fizzz-It, a national competition to think up and design a new flavour and can for soft drink, Tango.

His wacky idea has netted his school a state-of-the-art orange I-Mac computer, one for himself and a copy of his own can design, signed by TV beauty Cat Deeley.

In addition to the prizes, James enjoyed an all-expenses paid trip to the Tango design studio in Essex, where he saw the winner's design being made into a 3D product.

Finally, there was a presentation to the winners by Cat Deeley at the Design Museum at London's South Bank.

It was James' striking fluorescent design for Toxic Tango -- complete with radioactive warning signs-- that impressed the panel of judges, which included Channel 4's Andi Peters and Smash Hits editor John McKie.

His slogan, "Tickle, Tantalise and Tease Your Tongue with Toxic Tango," beat off stiff competition from the other hopefuls, and secured him a place in the judges' hearts.

James told The Citizen: "I hoped I would win, but I never thought I would. My computer is great, it's even got a DVD player on it, which is cool.

"The day in London was brilliant and meeting Cat Deeley was great - she congratulated me on winning and was really friendly."

The competition was part of project Fizzz - an educational initiative aimed at 14-17 year old design students, focusing on new product development and improving marketing and creative skills.

John McKie praised the extremely high standard of entries, saying: 'The quality, imagination and artistic merit of them was fantastic. Many of the entrants have got great futures as writers, advertising executives and graphic designers."