Ice cream parlour Lickety Split scoops national award for special dessert

Lickety Split Creamery in Seaham won the Silver Challenge Cup for its cookies ice cream in the 2016 National Ice Cream Competition, which is run by The Ice Cream Alliance - the trade body for the UK's £1billion ice cream industry - and attracts entries from across Britain and Ireland.

It also won a bronze medal in the ice cream artisan contest, plus another four diplomas.

Owner Carl Thompson, said: "I was really shocked when I heard we had won the contest. I couldn't believe it. It's quite rare for a maker who has only been in business for a few years to win an honour like this."

He said the business, which is based near the beach in Seaham and features a 1950s American themed parlour, was started eight years ago by his mother Cindy.

He said she came up with the idea for the name from one of the children's My Little Pony toys called Lickety Split, which features ice cream cones on its side.

He added that his mother had cried with joy when she heard of the firm's success.

Carl, who has previously worked in catering and banking, the winning flavour was developed by himself and employee Bethany Squire in the parlour's new product development kitchen at the parlour.