IT WAS the end of an era for a confectionery icon.

This was the scene as the last circular Smarties tubes rolled off the production line at the Nestl Rowntree factory in York.

Members of staff gathered to mark the occasion, brought about because of a decision by Nestl bosses to switch to a new hexagonal tube.

The move has drawn criticism from lovers of the traditional tube, including the Duke of York, who chided Nestl Rowntree boss Chris White on the issue at a top business gathering at the National Railway Museum earlier this year.

But workers were in a celebratory mood as they threw the circular tubes into the air.

With them was Nestl Rowntree marketing director Neil Ducray, who said: "This was a significant moment in the history of the Smarties brand. The Smarties team came together to honour the last ever Smarties tube rolling off the production line.

"Although there will be fond memories of the iconic tube, this is an exciting time for the brand, which sees the new Smarties Hexatube arriving on production lines in the next couple weeks.

"The redesign of the Smarties packaging is part of our ongoing programme of product innovation, and the result of in-depth research carried out with our consumers."

Updated: 10:35 Friday, June 03, 2005