People who voted were also entered into a free prize draw to win a year’s supply of their preferred confectionery.

The winner of the free prize draw picked at random was Karen Henderson (57) who lives in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

“It was a fantastic surprise when I found out I’d won,” said Karen. “When I came across the competition it immediately took me back to my childhood when I was allowed to spend some of my pocket money on sweeties. 

“Each week I took some of my pennies to the local sweet shop and I always hoped they had Pear Drops.  I used to get a quarter and suck them till the roof of my mouth was sore and I had ulcers!  Those were the days! 

Courtesy of the Bucks Advertiser produced by The Bucks Herald.

This particularly delicious confectionery is a Northern Ireland speciality.

It is traditionally sold at the “Ould Lammas Fair”, Ireland’s oldest traditional market fair.

11/2 cups golden syrup
1 cup brown sugar
50g (2oz) Irish butter
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon bicarbonate of soda

To Cook: Gently mix the syrup, sugar, butter and vinegar together in a large saucepan. Then bring it slowly to the boil (do not stir). Boil until a drop hardens in cold water, then carefully stir in the baking soda. The mixture will foam up when the soda goes in!

Pour out on to a lightly greased slab and when cool enough to handle, work the edges into the centre. Keep doing this until the mixture turns to a pale yellow colour. Pop it into a lightly greased flat tin and leave to cool and set. When cold, break it into bite size chunks with a clean hammer.
Bag-it-up, then off you go to the Auld Lammas Fair!