Was 99er invented in St Helens?

This strange query comes from a mature reader who believes (though he'd welcome confirmation) that the idea of sticking a chocolate flake into a cone of ice cream came when rationing ended after the 1939-45 war.

Two local family businesses, one selling firm ice-cream and the other a softer 'whippy-style' variety, were in hot competition at the time says my informant, who wishes to be anonymous but who has made his full identity known to me.

He goes back to his own boyhood, being drawn to ice cream vans outside the old St Helens covered market, now sadly no more!

Traditionally, the little extras aimed at stimulating custom then consisted of a coating of sweet 'hundreds and thousands' or a dash of 'raspberry vinegar'.

Then, one trader is said to have had the bright idea of popping a choc flake in the centre of the ice-cream filled cornet - and thus, it is said, the 99-er was introduced, and perhaps even born, in St Helens.