By Eck! A baker has been forced to change the name of its jumbo posh scone or face the wrath of tearooms Bettys.

Award-winning commercial bakers Just Desserts, of Shipley, introduced its Fat Rascals premium scone more than two and a half years ago.

But now the Station Road firm has crumbled at the stern request of the famous cafe tearoom.

And it has even had to change the style of its monster fruity fancy – now dubbed a Yorkshire Scallywag – so it looks less like its older rival. Customers need not worry though, as the handcrafted Shipley scone is made to its original family recipe and still bulges with sultanas and cherries.

It has proved so popular in cafes, delis, farm shops and tea shops that sales have doubled since January. Such is demand that it has made it on to the company’s top 25 best-selling products list.

Managing director of Just Desserts, James O’Dwyer, said: “When we received notification from Bettys to stop using the Fat Rascals name, our bakery team rose to the challenge and eventually came up with a new name – Yorkshire Scallywags – which we think is a fitting description.

“We have also changed the look of our scone so that it does not resemble the appearance of the Bettys product.

“But they can’t trademark taste and our customers love our ‘posh scone with knobs on’!”

Just Desserts was established by Mr O’Dwyer and his wife Carol in 1985 when they baked their first handmade cake at Salts Mill in Saltaire. It has since gained a first class reputation for providing the food service industry with a range of premium desserts and quiche.

The company employs 20 staff and moved to larger premises in Shipley in 1989 before expanding in 2007.

A Bettys spokesman said it had a duty to preserve the sanctity of its product.

“We created the recipe and look of the Bettys Fat Rascal three decades ago and since then this plump, fruity and freshly baked scone has won a special place in the hearts of our customers.

“We’ve been advised to protect the Fat Rascal name for future generations of Bettys customers. It’s what any business, large or small, would do,” she said.