News

A Nottinghamshireschoolgirl has landed a dream job - as a toy and game tester.

By James Tweedie

Thirteen year-old CleoWilliams-Green from Ruddington won a competition run by toy-makingfirm Mookie to find a young guinea-pig to test out their new Tailballrange of outdoor activity toys.

The lucky teenager getsto play with as-yet unreleased toys and give her feedback to thecompany.

If Mookie like her workshe will have the chance to test more toys in future.

"I was reallyexcited when I found out I was going to be a toy tester," saidCleo, a pupil at Rushcliffe School.

"I have got the toysbut haven't had much chance to go out and play with them yet becausethe weather has been bad.

"My friends atschool want to do it, too. Hopefully, I'll be able to do the testingwith them.

"I hope I can doreally well because I would like to be able to test more toys in thefuture. It is a great job to have. It's a great way to spend timeaway from school."

To enter the competition,children had to write to the company and explain why they were thebest candidate - just like a grown-up job application.

Cleo has been given fiveTailball products to test - Back Pack Attack, Extreme, Light,Rocket Zoomer and Flyer.

The Tailballs are newversions of traditional bat and ball games. The balls have tails tomake them easier and more fun to hit.

Cleo's opinions couldinfluence the final design of the games, due for release in 2011.

"The toys lookreally good and I've got about a week or so to start making somesuggestions," she said.

Mookie Toys head ofproduct development Guy Orr added: "Cleo will play a key role intelling us what she likes about the product and, more importantly,how she thinks we can improve it.

"Who knows, we mighteven discover a potential toy designer in the making who is luckyenough to see some of their ideas in our future products."

Cleo's mother Michellesaid: "She thought it was great that she had the toys sent toher. It is very exciting for her to be able to go out and test them."