After years of avoiding simple treats such as Mars bars, cereal and curries, a whole new world of food is opening up for Jonny Betts.

The youngster, who attends Oakwood Park Grammar School, Maidstone, has suffered from a peanut allergy from a very young age.

But a pioneering research project at a Cambridge hospital looks likely to cure the teenager’s allergy.

A year ago, Jonny, 13, began a peanut "desensitisation" programme at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.

Patients began by eating tiny amounts of peanut flour, which Jonny’s parents added to drinks and yoghurts, gradually increasing the dose.

A year on, and Jonny can now eat 32 peanuts a day.

His mother, Gill, 49, of Batchelors, Pembury, who is head of science at St Simon Stock catholic school, Maidstone, said: "We had some hiccups along the way.

"Early on in the study, he suffered an anaphylactic shock after the dose was increased too high. It was frightening and awful but there were doctors on hand, everything was monitored and they were brilliant."

Gradually doctors running the trial introduced Jonny and other children to peanut chocolate and then peanuts themselves.

Medics hope the successful study can be replicated in adults.

• For more news from the Maidstone area visit kentmessenger.co uk >>>