MOST teenagers about to turn 16 would be excited about leaving school and learning to drive, but Kinver's enterprising Louis Barnett looks set to become the hottest chocolate-maker in the land this season.

Louis, who set up his own company Chokolit in his parents garage, has now moved his mini empire to premises in Bridgnorth and has taken on a team of workers to help him and parents Phil and Mary to meet their Christmas order deadlines.

The teenager's novel chocolates in an edible box' creation is already selling well in Waitrose and Sainsburys.

And Louis' incredible story, about how he turned to chocolate-making after quitting school due to problems with dyslexia, has now gone global.

The youngster - who turns 16 on Friday (November 2) - was filmed by a Russian TV company on Sunday, and Japan's Fuji TV and Sky reporters are also hoping to interview him later this month.

Louis told the News: "It's absolutely amazing - it's really taken off. The press has absolutely exploded and I'm doing student lectures and going into schools. The chocolates are now in all Waitrose stores and nearly all of Sainsbury's. It feels quite strange, but it's recognition that it's got where we wanted to go."

Apart from time off to enjoy a spot of quad biking on his birthday, it's all go now for Louis until Christmas.

His dad Phil, who gave up his job to help get Chokolit up and running, said: "We're going to be working flat out for the next couple of months so hopefully everybody will be able to get what they want.

"I think Christmas is going to be phenomenal - we wouldn't want to disappoint people."

Louis will be meeting Stourbridge chocolate lovers in Waitrose's Ryemarket supermarket for an instore promotion on November 30 and then the Barnetts hope to open their new Bridgnorth chocolate-making factory to the public on Saturday December 15 after its official opening by South Staffordshire MP Sir Patrick Cormack on Friday December 14.

To find out more about Louis' mouth-watering chocolates go to www.chokolit.co.uk