UK teens gripped by prom fever

The high school prom has been voted the most important event of the school year by 16-18 year olds in a survey released by Cherry Vimto.

"The results reveal that the US import is now deemed more significant for school leavers than other milestone occasions such as exam results day'" said a spokesman for the survey.

It also emerged that on average prom-goers spend £450 on their big occasion and three months planning it.

The transformation of teenage boys into a generation of Mr Darcys is very becoming, with the average amount spent on a corsage or bouquet for their date being £42.

When asked about perfect prom dates, Twilight cutie Taylor Lautner topped the girls' charts with Geordie treasure Cheryl Cole doing it for the boys.

But not all teens go for the typical totty, with Dr Who star David Tennant scooping 25 per cent of the female vote and a single ballot paper for recently appointed Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg!

Emma Hunt, brand manager for Cherry Vimto, says: "When we commissioned the research we knew proms were becoming a big deal for teenagers, but for them to be named the single most important event of the school year shows prom fever has well and truly arrived in the UK."