CHARACTERS from Roald Dahl tales provided the inspiration for a York chef’s annual Christmas treat for seriously ill children.

Ashley McCarthy, co-owner of Ye Old Sun Inn at Colton, has made a themed chocolate display every Christmas for the last decade, donating it to youngsters with life-limiting illnesses at Boston Spa-based Martin House Hospice.

He chose figures from stories such as James And The Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox and, naturally enough, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory following a facebook search for ideas.

The display, made of 20 kilos of chocolate and five kilos of icing, took Ashley more than 40 hours to make and will be on show at the pub until Christmas Eve, when it will be presented to the hospice and eaten by the children their on Christmas Day.

Ashley said: “It gets harder every year, although I did get this one right with my first attempt. Last year’s display, based on Narnia, took three attempts.

“I just need an idea which triggers something in my head and which I can work with, and this one came from asking people on facebook what they would like to see.

“Martin House is an amazing place which does amazing work, and if we can do anything to help them, we will.”