THE ECONOMIC crisis may be leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of many, but a company in highland Perthshire has devised a novel way of sweetening things up.

The Courtyard in Kenmore is selling special credit crunch cookies that are being snapped up by customers treating themselves in these difficult times.

Directors Henry Murdoch and Colin Burns came up with the idea for a topical taste sensation then created their very own brand, label, poem and radio jingle.

They then teamed up with Celtic Confectionery, which regularly produces bespoke items for the business, to produce the chocolate chip creations.

And, to their delight, the cookies have been flying off the shelves ever since.

“The cookies have been selling really well,” said The Courtyard’s manager Jo Spicer.

“In fact, we’ve as good as sold out, though we are expecting a new delivery.”

The directors’ poetry has also proved a huge hit, as has the tag-line, “The times may be crummy, but our cookies are yummy.”

The poem reads, “If your equity’s negative and your life feels sub-prime, there’s no point in stressing, it’s just a sign of the times.

“Grab a Credit Crunch Cookie and a coffee, perhaps, then sit back and relax as the markets collapse.”