Outraged chocolate fans have claimed that Cadbury's US owners are ruining Easter with a new ''cheap chocolate imitation'' Creme Egg.

It comes after brand owner Mondelez changed the recipe for the sweet fondant-filled snack so that the shell is made from a ''standard, traditional milk chocolate'' instead of the popular Cadbury Dairy Milk. They were also unhappy after learning there would be five eggs in a pack instead of six.

In the build-up to Easter, Mondelez has got rid of three and six-packs of Creme Eggs and replaced them with a five- pack to sell alongside singles and 12-packs.

The old six-pack cost £3.05 while the new five-pack has a recommended retail price of £2.85.

Some shops are selling the five-packs for £2.

US giant Kraft Foods bought Cadbury in 2010 and its global snacks business under the name of Mondelez International.

It's not the first time Kraft have altered a recipe. In 2011 they changed the formulation of HP Sauce, and in 2010 they dropped the "glass and a half of milk in every bar" from Dairy Milk.

Caroline Ferris stated on Facebook ''Cheers for ruining Easter!! '' while Rachael 'chola' McNally added ''Nooooo cream eggs aren't back, krafts crap cheap chocolate imitation cream eggs have been released.''

Sassie Jordan said she is '' very disappointed'' adding: ''I will no longer be buying creme eggs for me or my family! Also whos ever heard of 5 eggs? I am sure eggs come in 6 and 12's...you are ruining a classic treat that everyone enioys at easter. Shame on you!!''

A Mondelez International spokesman said: ''The fundamentals of the Cadbury Creme Egg remain exactly the same - delicious milk chocolate and the unique creme centre that consumers love.

''We have always used a range of milk chocolate blends for different products, depending on their shape or consistency. Cadbury Creme Egg now uses a standard, traditional Cadbury milk chocolate for its shell.''

The spokesman added that Creme Eggs may have used Cadbury Dairy Milk as the chocolate in its shell in recent years but it has never been flagged as a Cadbury Dairy Milk product.

The now familiar Cadbury Creme Egg first hit the shelves in 1971.