Supermarket giant Iceland has applied to trademark its "iconic King Prawn Rings", taking a swipe at rival retailers.

In an open letter, it targeted Aldi, Tesco, Asda, and Lidl, demanding they pull their versions from sale.

Launching its product in 1991, the chain, based in Deeside in Flintshire, claims to be plagued by "copy crustaceans".

In response, Lidl said: "Here was us thinking it was a classic 1970s party dish."

Richard Walker of IcelandIceland's executive chairman, Richard Walker, retaliated on social media, asserting: "The King Prawn Ring is ours and we won't be letting you off the hook."

The letter, signed "Iceland Foods", accused competitors of "fishy behaviour" and bombastically challenged: "There's only one original and that's us."

In a stern warning, it continued: "We are today asking you to remove your pretender King Prawn Rings from sale and to not include them in any of your impending Christmas ranges.

"Doing so will ensure you don't have any action taken against you should our applications be granted."

Finally, the firm hinted at potential legal action: "Our lawyers are more than ready to dive into legal waters, and trust us, they're well-armed to claw back what's rightfully ours."

The trademark application was filed with the Intellectual Property Office on September 9.

However, the social media war of words has been largely dismissed as a publicity stunt.