A FAMILY firm has got it licked when it comes to making ice cream.

They have just beaten off the challenge from hundreds of competitors to scoop a top accolade in the industry's national awards.

Former farmers David Otterburn and his parents, Richard and Christine, of Church Farm Helmsley, began making ice cream to use up milk that was surplus to their quota.

The move proved so successful that ten years ago they gave up farming to concentrate on their tea-room and ice cream parlour. The company has also launched a new range of chocolates.

Since 1995 Ryeburn Ice Cream has won more than 50 awards, including the latest, a gold medal in the National Ice Cream Competition, held in Blackpool.

A panel of six judges voted his cookies 'n' cream flavour the best - to the delight of father-of-two David. "It's brilliant. It's actually for the quality of the ice cream, which is good. We just like to get quality ingredients into the ice cream," he said. "A lot of our flavours come from Italy. It's nice when your own tastes are celebrated."