Bettys has launched its first ever TV advert, starring chocolate animals in an enchanted forest.

The advert, which broadcast for the first time during Emmerdale on Friday (10 November), features a chocolate hedgehog, squirrel and fox coming to life and hitching a ride with Santa to make it back home.

York-based artist Emily Sutton was commissioned by Bettys to create a set of illustrations for its Christmas packaging and marketing, which were then used by animators IntoMania to create the animation for the advert.

“This TV advert is a first for Bettys and we’re really excited it is a Christmas ad. Christmas is a hugely special time of year for us – it’s when our artisan bakers, chocolatiers and confectioners really get to pull out all the stops,” said marketing director Martin Burke.

“We’ve worked with a range of wonderfully creative people to make this little film and we really hope it will help get people into the festive spirit.”

Earlier this month the Bettys and Yorkshire Tea owner Bettys and Taylors Group forced a tiny café in Whitby to rename one of its cakes