HAVING made his mark in the world of chocolate, Kinver's enterprising young chocolatier Louis Barnett is on a mission to help save the planet.

Louis, aged 16, is about to launch his latest product - the Biting Back Bar, which he hopes will highlight the plight of endangered orangutans.

Money raised from the new premium chocolate bar, created by Louis' company Chokolit, will go to the Sumatran Orangutan Society and Chester Zoo - which are campaigning to keep the species from extinction.

The bar is being supported by conservation organisations - who are trying to get the message across to consumers that over-production of palm oil, commonly used in chocolate - but not Louis' handmade treats, is threatening the habitats of the Sumatran orangutans and other animals.

Every minute of every day an area equal to six football fields of rainforest disappears due to unsustainable palm oil production.

Louis said: "At 16, I'm old enough to understand the reality of this issue and the impact it could have on the future.

"But, I'm also young enough to act now and help shape the world I want to be living in."

"Palm oil is in so many products on our supermarket shelves, but it's only used to cut costs.

"As well as not being a good ingredient, the production of palm oil is also endangering habitats."

Louis' Biting Back bar, which features a picture of an orangutan on its wrapper, will be officially launched at Chester Zoo on Thursday May 29.

Louis will also be appearing at West Midlands Safari Park on Friday May 30 from 10am - giving away samples of the chocolate bar for visitors to try as well as explaining more about palm oil.

Both the park and the zoo are stocking the bar.

Dudley Zoo will be too - and other Black Country shops and businesses are also being encouraged to back the bar.

Five pence from each chocolate sold will be donated to the Sumatran Orangutan Society - and another 5p will go to Chester Zoo's Bornean Orang-utan Conservation Programme.

Anyone interested in stocking it can contact Chokolit on 01746 764932.