THE iconic round Smarties tube has finally been given the chop - and the last batch produced are set to become collectors' items.

The much-loved cylinders are already being replaced in shops by six-sided hexatubes, hailed as a "new age" in the sweet's 68-year history.

Now, Nestl Rowntree has announced the final 100 tubes to roll off the production line at its York factory will be individually numbered and come with an exclusive "certificate of authenticity", signed by company boss Chris White and Smarties factory manager Steven Blofeld.

Since 1937 there have been no changes in Smarties packaging - until now. The last tubes were manufactured in York in June, and the official changeover began last month, with new hexatubes already available in shops.

The distinctive "letter on the lid" will be no more, as the new design will sport a re-sealable flip-top.

Nestl Rowntree bosses say the hexatube "represents the next exciting stage of our continually evolving brand" - but the new shape has sparked controversy.

Critics of the six-sided tube include the Duke of York, who chided Mr White at the National Railway Museum earlier this year after informing him that he used the tubes to store plumes from his regimental headdress.

Meanwhile, John Plant, who runs Sweet Treasures in Shambles, has pledged to keep some of the circular tubes for his display of old-fashioned packaging.

Mike O'Reilly, Nestl Rowntree's head of consumer communications, said: "The round Smarties tube will remain an icon long after it's gone.

"However, we believe the new hexatube will follow in its footsteps.

"We wanted to bring Smarties up to date with a fresh, modern twist and after extensive trials it was our consumers who gave the new shape the thumbs up."

FACT FILE

Smarties were developed by Rowntree of York, which was bought by Nestl in 1988.

The sweets were launched as Chocolate Beans in 1937 and packed in the familiar cylindrical tube. They were renamed Smarties a year later.

When they were first brought out, a tube cost 2d. The recommended price today is 34p

:: Chocs away to New Orleans

YORKIE chocolate bars are in lifesaving ration packs being delivered to the region around New Orleans left devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

The Ministry of Defence has sent 500,000 Army meal boxes to help feed the homeless.

Each one contains "boil in the bag" meals, tea, coffee, biscuits - and a special military-issue Yorkie bar manufactured at Nestl Rowntree's York factory.

The packs contain about 4,000 calories - about ten per cent of which is provided by the Yorkie.

The bars were added to Army ration packs last year, and the traditional Not For Girls logo changed to Not For Civvies.

Updated: 10:11 Friday, September 09, 2005