DECADES of ice cream history in York city centre will come to an end when family firm J Capaldi & Sons closes its factory.

The firm, which has been selling ices in York since the 1930s, is to shut its factory in Fetter Lane, off Skeldergate. But the company will not be totally lost to the city, according to family firm member Raymond Capaldi. He told the Evening Press a new factory is due to open at Huntington.

Capaldi history in York can be traced back to before the Second World War when the family ran a small shop in Layerthorpe. For years, its stall selling Italian ices has been a familiar sight for tourists and locals alike outside York Art Gallery in Exhibition Square. Mr Capaldi said he was excited about the business developing through the move from Bishophill to the new factory.

But he said: "I can remember the (Fetter Lane) factory being built with concrete blocks after the Second World War because of the shortage of bricks.

"It was built at the rear of what was then the family's restaurant, in Micklegate."

Andrew Hedley, partner at Blacks property consultants, which is selling the Capaldi factory, said he expected the site to be used to build housing. He said: "While the site does not have a planning consent at this stage, its potential was identified by developers many years ago.

"As expected, we have already received numerous expressions of interest, but have to fully market the property to ensure that we get the best result for the owner."

Updated: 11:02 Monday, June 30, 2003