Thousands from around the world apply to be doughnut testers in Mansfield

Although there are just 30 roles available and the position is unpaid, thousands of die-hard doughnut fans have applied to take a bite of the tasty new job.

The roles were advertised by bakery Project D, which delivers a range of handcrafted doughnuts, embellished with an array of indulgent toppings, to homes across the region.

Among the 24,982 people who filled in the online application form were dedicated doughnut fans in South America, Australia, South Africa, Germany, Croatia and USA.

Although the three young entrepreneurs behind Project D have big plans to expand their company, exporting their products to the rest of the world is not currently on the cards.

Successful volunteers, who must be based in the UK, will receive a box of four different doughnuts once a week for a month and must provide feedback on quality, selection, flavours and toppings.

The taste testers, who will be announced on August 14, will also get sneak previews of future products and be the first to try out new flavours.

Max Poynton, Project D’s co-owner, said: “We thought we’d get quite a few applications for this job, mostly from our current customers, who are really loyal and keep coming back for more.

“What we didn’t expect was quite this level of interest and from so far afield

"We’ve been approached by influencers in Florida and New York who want us to send them a box to review, which would be amazing.

"But since we always say our products are best eaten on the day they are made, it simply isn’t practical.

“We always said that becoming a Project D taste tester sounds like something from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and there are certainly more than a few would-be Willy Wonkas out there.

“But the successful candidates will have to be based on one of our delivery routes so we can gather more information on taste trends.”

To apply for a role as a taste-tester, click here.