In 2006, 645 jobs were lost at the Nestle factory in York when production of Smarties was moved to Hamburg in Germany.

But it seems the local community is not bitter and is still keen to promote the company.

Children at Park Grove Community Primary School in York, which is close to the chocolate giant’s UK headquarters, have a grand plan to use a donation of 50,000 of the colourful sweets, which sadly have to be imported.

Their project? To create a record-breaking mosaic of the Mona Lisa.

The company said it offered the confectionery for the attempt as it is keen to be “involved with the local community” and celebrate Smarties’ 70th birthday.

Marketing men at Nestle have welcomed the school’s record attempt, calling it “a great example of the fun you can have being arty and creative” with their product.

But the school’s headteacher, Andrew Calverley, has expressed concerns that the sweets could be devoured by little artists long before Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece is complete.