We just can’t flake it anymore!

Hopes of a perfect Irish summer may have crumbled before our eyes with reported shortages of Flake 99s across Ireland and the UK.

A spokesperson for Cadbury’s parent company Mondelez has confirmed a sudden and unexpected spike in demand for the special chocolate which is about half the size of a normal flake.

However, with summer right around the corner, the spokesperson said efforts are being made to rectify the situation.

“We are seeing a recent increase in demand for our Cadbury 99 Flake in the UK and Ireland that we had not expected. The product is still available to order and we're continuing to work closely with our customers,” said the spokesperson.

With international travel still some way off, a more traditional Irish summer can be expected this year with seaside areas already drawing huge crowds.

For many, the sacred 99 ice cream is an integral part of any Irish holiday and a shortage could further soften the nation’s already badly melted moral.

The origin of the 99 ice cream is not confirmed, with many cone-flicting stories swirling around the internet. One belief is that it got its name because it used to cost 99p, while others claim its origins can be traced to Italy.