Facebook launched a failed bid to acquire Snapchat a while back, but it has since introduced a raft of features similar to those of the picture messaging service, Digital Spy reports.

The latest update to its iOS app brings Snapchat-esque photo editing tools, allowing users to add text, filters and stickers to any picture they upload.

Facebook has been testing these features in its standalone apps - including Stickered and Slingshot - and is now bringing them to its core application.

Users who have received the update will see a magic wand icon in the bottom corner after they have uploaded a photo.

This can be used to call up the photo editor menu, which houses the options for filters, tagging friends, crop tools, applying text and adding stickers.

The update is gradually rolling out to iOS users worldwide, and is expected to come to Android in the future.