Mother's insect-eating game a hit

Players eat insects as challenges

A mother who invented a game which involves eating insects has sold the idea to a games company.

Debbie Pitcher, from Surbiton in south-west London, came up with the concept for her daughter's 12th birthday party last year.

The Really Wild Bug Eating Party contains chocolate-covered crickets, ants and worms, and costs about £15.

Ms Pitcher said the game had undergone strict health and safety checks, and each box had a sell-by date.

Chocolate-covered insects

Explaining how the game came about, she said: "We wanted a party that was different and didn't cost too much money.

"I had seen chocolate-covered insects before and thought it would be fun to try out some games with the real thing.

"After the party some of the mums that came to pick up [their children] said, 'why don't you box it?', so that's what I did."

And she insisted it is very safe. "They had to go through really strict guidelines... they are probably safer than most things you get in the supermarket," she said.

Ms Pitcher has now gone into partnership with games manufacturer Upstarts, which makes the board game Who Wants to be a Millionaire.