A Derbyshire firm which specialises in edible insects has said that the British public are starting to get the bug for eating creepy crawlies.

Nick Cooper, founder and director of Ilkeston-based Crunchy Critters, has said that more and more people are trying its range of edible bugs - and believes that insects could be the answer to future food production challenges.

The business sells a range of different products, sourced from all over the world, through its website.

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It sells crickets that come in a choice of flavours - salt and vinegar or cheese and onion. And it also sells flour made from crickets that can be used in baking.

And the firm’s website also has a list of recipe ideas for cooking with bugs such as Crunchy Critters cocktail, cricket kofta patties, critter burgers, ant-y-cheese biscuits, cricket carrot cake and chocolate ant truffles.

Crunchy Critters sources its edible insects from all over the world

Before being sold, the bugs are cleansed, quick frozen, boiled, dehydrated (or fried) and seasoned.

According to Mr Cooper, since founding the business in 2012, it has grown year-on-year by 25%.

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He said: “I actually got the idea for the business after watching I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. Watching the Bush Tucker trials, where the celebrities have to eat bugs, like many people I wondered what they tasted like. I then thought there might be some mileage in making a business out of it.

“I started off very small. I ran the business from home and initially had one supplier. Today, we have our own premises and source edible insects from all over the world.”

Among the products sold by Crunchy Critters are queen leafcutter ants

Mr Cooper accepts that while some people might shy away from eating bugs, he believes there is a growing number of people who are overcoming their fears.

He said: “We sometimes exhibit at certain events and give out free samples for people to try.

Nick (pictured second from left) lets people try the bugs at events

"At the beginning, some people are adamant they won’t like them. They try one and are pleasantly surprised. They then have another!

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“The ones who are particularly eager to try them are children. They don’t seem to have the fear of some adults. I think that bodes well for the future - not just of my business, but the future of food production.”

It's estimated that by 2050 the world will be home to nine billion people, meaning current food production will need to almost double.

Could eating bugs solve future food production challenges?

As the population grows, there's been a real push to look at sources of food - particularly protein - other than traditional meat and fish.

Eating insects is said to be one way of meeting this challenge because they are environmentally sustainable, nutritious and can be harvested relatively cheaply and easily in the right conditions.