Fans of Marks and Spencer favourite Percy Pigs will be devastated to learn the sweet treats could be under threat due to post- Brexit regulations.

M&S boss Steve Rowe has warned that despite the free trade agreement with the EU, new rules could impact shipments of the pig-shaped sweets between Ireland, the Czech Republic and France.

Bosses say M&S is "actively working to mitigate" the problems, so hopefully there won't be a permanent issue with the food favourite, even if Percy is affected at first.

Mr Rowe said: "Essentially, there is about a third of the product in our food business that is subject to very complex rules of origin arrangements, around the components within it, and how much has been altered in the UK."

He added: "Depending on that there is a variable tariff. Any product that's manufactured in Europe, comes to the UK and is then redistributed to somewhere like Republic of Ireland also, potentially faces a tariff.

"So, the best example is Percy Pig is actually manufactured in Germany, and if it comes to the UK and we then send it to Ireland, in theory, he would have some tax on it."

Talking about the issue, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said that although there could be initial disruption, which "will get worse before it gets better", things will improve after time.

He added: "There are specific issues that arise because Northern Ireland has a land border with the European Union that is covered by the protocol, part of the Withdrawal Agreement that we have with the European Union, and we are working with supermarkets to ensure that Northern Ireland consumers can have an uninterrupted supply of the products they are used to enjoy."

"We've been working with ministers in the Northern Ireland executive – from the DUP and all parties – in order to make sure the protocol works, that business in Northern Ireland can continue to have access to the rest of the UK market and Northern Ireland consumers can have access to the goods they need on the shelves.

"We said that there would be some initial disruption, we're ironing it out but the situation will get worse before it gets better."

The news comes after Marks and Spencer recently revealed it was releasing a giant chocolate Percy Pig Easter egg.

The adorable chocolate egg will cost shoppers £10 and will be available in M&S stores nationwide.

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