To test the potential health benefits of eating dark Belgian chocolate scientists are looking for volunteers who are willing to eat a bar of chocolate everyday for a year.

The study undertaken by scientists from the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich is looking for 40 post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes to take part in the study.

As part of the study, the women will be required to eat two 13.5g pieces of super-strength chocolate, specially formulated by Belgian chocolatiers, for a year and have their risk of heart disease tested in a lab on five occasions.

The UEA said that this will involve giving blood and urine samples, having an ultrasound scan of their arteries and filling in questionnaires about their lifestyle.

The tests are needed to test whether flavonoid compounds in chocolate can reduce the risk of heart disease. The study has already had a batch of volunteers who ate chocolate every day for a year and will soon be tested for health benefits.

 Dr Peter Curtis, of the UEA's School of Medicine said,  "Our first volunteers are about to return for their final visit to see if the markers of heart health - such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels - have changed.

"A successful outcome could be the first step in developing new ways to improve the lives of people at increased risk of heart disease."

The new volunteers who are eligible for the study must meet certain requirements. They must be under 76 years old and must not have had a period for at least one year or be taking HRT.                                                                                                 

Volunteers must also be non-smokers and have been taking cholesterol lowering drugs such as statins for at least a year.

Giving details a spokesman said, "The study is based in Norwich and travel expenses are available up to a maximum of a 60-mile round trip.                                                         

"People who want to take part but live further away can still do so, but they would only get expenses for 60 miles, which works out as £21 per visit."