HALAL shoppers can now pick 'n' mix their favourite sweets at a Bolton supermarket after it launched a new range of jelly sweets.

The collection, called Yummys, features 36 classic sweets, including fizzy cola bottles, jelly hearts, dummies and snakes, that people can mix together as they wish.

The sweets, which contain halal beef gelatine, are available to buy per cup full at Morrisons in Blackhorse Street — one of only 10 Morrisons in the country to stock the sweets.

Parisa Para and Hakan Bayram, who run Moda Hair Salon in Newport Street, were impressed with the addition, which sits at the end of the aisle near the regular sweets.

Ms Para, aged 27, said: "I was very excited when I spotted the halal sign. I love jelly sweets.

"It's really good that the store is appealing to different races and religions.

"After all there are vegetarian and vegan options. What's really good is that it is a real pick n mix rather than just small bags of the same sweet.

"When I normally go to a supermarket I always have to read the labels on things — or I end up being disappointed when I pick something up that I realise isn't halal."

Mr Bayram, who has two children, said: "It's a really good idea. No doubt my kids will be dragging me back here to buy them some very soon."

The paper cup filled with sweets costs £2.49 — the same price as a regular sized portion of the non-halal selection.

Shaheda Mohmed, aged 52, of Blackburn Road, said: "They really are yummy. It's a really good idea that customers can buy sweets just like anyone else, without having to worry about looking at labels.

"I know my grandchildren will be excited about this — and so will my son and he's 33. Normally you can only get sweets like this in a specialist Asian supermarket, so it's great to have them here."

Halal is an Arabic term which means lawful or permissible in Islam, and, in respect of food, means the animal has to be slaughtered in a certain way.

Duty manager Sal Isap added: "It is a company idea. Morrisons is trialling it out in a few supermarkets and chose Bolton because it is a diverse area.

"I eat halal myself and we have customers asking about sweets all quite often. They've started it off on a trial basis at the moment but hopefully it will become permanent in the future."

A spokesman for Morrisons added: "It is being introduced into only 10 stores nationwide, including Bolton.

"Thirty-six halal sweets are available. They include old favourites such as Liquorice Sticks, Cola Bottles and Jelly Beans, plus new choices like Gummy Bears and Sugared Lips."