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A bid by drink maker Snapple to set a world record ends up flooding Union Square in Manhattan.

The 25-foot tall, 17 and a half ton strawberry and kiwi flavored ice pop would have been a new record, had it not melted immediately in the withering New York summer sunshine.

Snapple had been trying to promote a new line of frozen treats by setting a record for the world's largest popsicle, but called off the stunt before it was pulled fully upright by a construction crane.

The would-be record breaking dessert filled the streets with an icky sticky goo, requiring the services of the fire department. Several surrounding streets had to be closed while the Bravest hosed gallons of syrup away.

A representative of Guinness World Records said the sculpture needed to be free-standing in order to qualify. " We couldn't deem it worthy, as it were" said Stuart Claxton, the Guinness representative.

Snapple's ice pop had been made in Edison, New Jersey, and hauled to New York by freezer truck in the morning. The current record holder was a ten-ton creation made in the Netherlands in 1997.

Lauren Radcliffe, a spokesperson for Snapple, maintained a sense of perspective, and no small measure of hindsight, in assessing the situation. "Maybe we should have done it on New Year's Eve," she said.

David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.