German supermarket Lidl has been told by a Swiss court to stop selling its sweet treats since they are too similar to Lindt bunnies and are liable to sow confusion.

Lindt provided surveys indicating that its gold foil Easter bunny, with red necktie and bell, was well known to the public.

Lidl was ordered to destroy its stock of bunnies, but the court said this “does not necessarily mean that the chocolate would have to be destroyed”, suggesting it could be melted down and made into a different, non-bunny shape.

Lindt & Sprüngli said it did not want to force other makers of chocolate bunnies off the market but had to defend itself.