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Findus is being frozen out after 57 years as a UK favourite.

All products by the freezer food brand will vanish from shops in the spring – including its iconic Crispy Pancakes.

The treat, launched in the 1970s, was named our favourite retro food in 2009 – with three times the votes of nearest rivals Wagon Wheels and Fab lollies.

But owner Young’s Seafood is dropping the Findus brand after it was caught up in the 2013 horsemeat scandal.

The move will leave a sour taste for lifelong fans including Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who created a smoked haddock crispy pancake on his Channel 4 show River Cottage.

And as Crispy Pancakes topped the 2009 poll, Findus created a lobster thermidor filling for the range - inspired by the celebrity chef.

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He said at the time: “My heroes were Captain Birdseye and Mr Findus. I loved nothing more than Crispy Pancakes.”

Findus recalled products three years ago after some of its beef lasagnes were found to be 100 per cent horsemeat.

Young’s Seafood is expected to launch Chef’s Classic lasagne and spaghetti bolognese later this year.

Read more:Ready meals with up to 100% horse meat: Shops take packets off shelves as tests ordered for animal drug

And devotees of Crispy Pancakes, currently on sale at Asda and Morrisons, need not despair – a new version will launch under the Original Pancake Co brand.

Findus, first sold in Sweden in 1945, debuted in the UK in 1958 and in 2011 global sales topped £1billion.

Young’s Seafood declined to comment on the changes.