A DORSET village is to undergo a sweet transformation today to help launch a new product.

Chocolate giant Cadbury has chosen Puddletown to help promote its new bar Dairy Milk Puddles.

To mark the occasion, a sign made of 30 kilos of solid chocolate is being placed in the village to announce the village – which will be renamed 'Puddlestown' for the day – is twinned with Bournville, Birmingham, the home of Cadbury. A sign will also go up in Bournville for the day.

The signs were especially hand-crafted and stand a solid 4ft tall, taking over 200 hours to create.

Villagers, including local vicar Sarah Hilman and chairman of Puddletown Area Parish Council Stephen Baynard, will be the first to taste the sign.

Cadbury is also contributing to the annual duck race by releasing 1,501 rubber ducks into the river – one named after every resident.

The winner of the race and their family will win a a lifetime supply of Cadbury Dairy Milk Puddles.

The firm says it is also helping the residents with fundraising for a village project.

Mr Baynard said: “We’re so excited to put Puddletown, or should I say ‘Puddlestown’ on the map through this delicious partnership and being twinned with Bournville, the home of chocolate.

"I can’t wait to get a closer look at that wonderful chocolate sign – it really does look good enough to eat."

Matthew Williams, marketing director for Mondele, the multinational confectionery company whose brands include Cadbury, said: "We wanted to do something really special for the launch of Cadbury Dairy Milk Puddles, and once we realised there was a village aptly named after our new product, we knew this would be the base for a fantastic piece of activity.

"This has brought real joy to the residents in Puddlestown, and beyond.

"We’re also very pleased to be able to provide long-term legacy for the village by helping the residents fundraise for a much needed recreation area in the village."