IT has provided a satisfying sugar rush to generations of sweet-toothed Scots.

But now Edinburgh Rock could be set to crumble away into the history books.

For the family firm - which has produced the pastel-coloured favourite for more than a century - is about to produce its final batch.

The owner of Ross's of Edinburgh announced last week that he is about to close his factory - the only one in the country currently making sticks of Edinburgh Rock.

The closure could also see treats like pan drops, soor plooms and rhubarb rock disappearing from traditional sweet shops.

The confectionary company has operated in the Scottish capital since 1880.

However, Graham Ross, the great-grandson of the founding owner, has announced he is planning to retire after more than 40 years of producing rock and boiled sweets.

With his children declining to take the helm Scotland's answer to Willy Wonka has reluctantly decided to close his factory.

Mr Ross explained: "I'm 64 and was made an offer for the factory building that, at my age, I'd be stupid to refuse.

"I've been in the business for 40 years and there is a certain amount of sadness in bowing out, but it can't go on forever.

"My family doesn't want to follow in my footsteps and we don't feel we want to turn it over to somebody just to manage it."

The chairman and managing director claimed the marketplace was now unrecognisable from the day he sold his first stick of rock.

He said: "Back in those days children didn't have a huge amount of options on what they were going to do with their pocket money.

"Now kids have a vast range of choices and would rather spend their money on mobile phones.

"The traditional corner shop has also all but disappeared.

"We used to supply a few overseas markets, but primary emigration to places to Canada stopped two generations ago and the kids there don't regard themselves as Scots living in Canada any more."

Mr Ross, who employs a dozen staff, admitted he was completely unprepared for the response that greeted his announcement that he was planning to close the factory.

He said: "We sent out letters by second class mail and the very next day I got a response from a sweet shop in Fort William.

"After that things went berserk.

"We got calls and messages from all over the place."

The clamour to get the last Edinburgh rock, violet creams and candy-striped Berwick Cockles was such that all the remaining stock has now been snapped up ahead of the planned closure at the end of March.

The owner, who is looking forward to taking his first summer holiday for a decade, said: "We have had people buying up to two years worth of stock of Edinburgh rock and other items.

"It has been quite incredible."

The soft, crumbly delicacy that is Edinburgh rock was invented in the 19th century by Alexander 'Sweetie Sandy' Ferguson.

His product was an instant hit and the delicious fruity smell of his creation used to draw crowds to his premises in the city's Melbourne Place.