AN ICE cream firm from County Durham is celebrating after winning a prestigious award.

Lickety Split Creamery, of Seaham, won the Silver Challenge Cup for its cookies ice cream in the 2016 National Ice Cream Competition - is run by The Ice Cream Alliance - the trade body for the UK's £1bn ice cream industry.

It also won a bronze medal in the ice cream artisan contest, as well has 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.

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.

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