WHEN Robbie Williams was spotted popping a ‘mystery pill’ during a live performance, it fuelled speculation in the press that the 37-year-old star was back on drugs.

But after further inquiries, the mystery pill turned out to be nothing more sinister than a throat lozenge. For Robbie and his fellow Take That bandmates are all fans of Vocalzone – a throat pastille that has been used by singers for 100 years.

Their supplier, George Ponsford who lives in Dorset, even had to get up at 5am one day to drive across London to make an emergency delivery in time for their Wembley gig.

“Their tour manager was desperate because an earlier supply I’d sent via bike courier hadn’t turned up. We are just a small, family business so it was down to me to get there in time,” he said.

The list of celebrities who have endorsed Vocalzone over the years reads like a who’s who of music industry greats ranging from David Bowie and classical opera singers like Katherine Jenkins to Snoop Dogg and new bands like Naked & Famous.

But their biggest fan is veteran crooner Sir Tom Jones.

Back at Vocalzone HQ in Broadstone, George shows me national newspaper cuttings, magazine articles, video footage and even a taped radio interview where Tom has waxed lyrical about the wonders of Vocalzone.

During an episode of the hit TV show Top Gear, the Welsh star even pokes out his tongue to reveal the little black pastille after Jeremy Clarkson demands to know what’s in his mouth.

It’s the kind of publicity that any self-respecting marketing officer would sever his right arm for, but George says they haven’t paid a penny for any of it.

“We don’t pay for any of these endorsements,” he says. “It’s the kind of product that sells itself for as soon as one singer starts talking about it word starts to spread. We were told that Julie Andrews used them during the filming of The Sound of Music.”

Vocalzone (which at £3.49 for a packet of 24 is cheaper than other brands of cough sweets) is based on an old remedy including menthol, peppermint oil and myrrh tincture.

The pastille was originally developed for the legendary tenor Enrico Caruso by William Lloyd, a Welsh ear, nose and throat consultant in 1910.

It contains all natural ingredients and is the only product in the UK to contain myrrh, which has been used for thousands of years for its natural anti-inflammatory properties.

But it was George’s dad Ian who spotted the product’s real potential 10 years ago. He had so much faith in it that he re-mortgaged his home at the age of 55 in order to buy the global licence from an American firm.

“It was a gamble, but within five years it had paid off,” said Ian. “But although it has been ticking over I’ve never really had enough time to develop it much further, which is why George has now taken it on.”

Vocalzone is currently available in the UK and New Zealand in pharmacies and has just been launched in record shops.

Future plans include health food stores too and breaking into Australia and eventually America.

“Snoop Dogg’s rider was leaked to the press listing all the things he insists on having in his dressing room during his tour and as well as Moet champagne were Vocalzone throat lozenges. That’s when I thought we have got to do something more with this.” You could say he decided to suck it and see!