So it's goodbye to the dapper major and his elegant lady companion.

Goodbye to the quaint packaging, goodbye to the fruit-and-nut delight, and so-long to the vanilla octagon.

York-based Nestl is dragging the perennial, but old-fashioned, family favourite, Quality Street, into the 21st Century with a multi-million pound re-launch.

The company hopes the new look, aimed to catch the eye of 25 to 44-year-olds, will expand its sales beyond its current Christmas-based market.

The familiar purple tin has been replaced. Now, according to the advertising, we have "an unusual semi-opaque plastic material which, in itself, will be considered more contemporary by younger consumers". And a new shape should promote "informal sharing".

But what is there to share now in Quality Street?

The number of varieties of sweets has been reduced from 15 to 12, so each pack contains more of people's favourites,says the firm.

Nestl believes the variety that will disappear fastest from the new boxes - and be the source of countless arguments for the last one - will be the new orange chocolate crunch.

And there are new recipe strawberry dreams and country fudge sweets.

The revamp will be led by a TV advertising campaign and ads in "youthful" media "Quality Street is set for a year - and not just a Christmas - to remember," said Nestl spokesman Paul Kirkwood.