VISITORS to a North-East hospital were asked to take part in a chocolate-based research project to celebrate International Clinical Trials Day.

The mock trial at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough compared the effects of two different types of chocolate on a person's mood.

Visitors and staff were asked to rate their mood on a scale of one to ten before and after tasting either a Sample A or Sample B chocolate drop.

The mock trial was run by the Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network in the atrium at James Cook on Monday to mark International Clinical Trials Day.

As well as giving people an insight into what it is like to take part in a clinical trial, the event was used to promote "It's OK to ask"- a new campaign led by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to encourage patients to ask about clinical research.

Julie Rowbotham, research and development manager said: "We want everyone to know that it's okay to ask your GP, nurse or consultant whether clinical research might be right for you.

Research nurses were on hand to talk about the trials currently open and recruiting and there was an opportunity to talk to patients who have benefitted from taking part in clinical trials.

If you have a medical condition and are undergoing treatment, you can join the "It's OK to ask" campaign by asking your doctor, nurse or consultant about clinical research, and whether it might be right for you or someone you care for.