The ice has melted, or at least disappeared from its temporary home on a street corner in Clifton, York.

A metre-square cube of ten ice blocks, containing resin-coated toys and gifts, was created and placed on the old Imperial Hotel site in Crichton Avenue by York artist Benedict Phillips.

The creation, called Melting Mail, was placed on the pavement so artists could film people's reactions to it and the footage will form part of an exhibition later this year.

When the ice was put in place, Benedict predicted it would last for three or four days.

Pedestrians and children stopped and stared at it during its first day on show.

But less than a day after it appeared, witnesses saw the blocks being demolished with sledgehammers by a group of people under the eyes of police officers.

Benedict was unavailable for comment today.

His exhibition runs at the Impressions Gallery in York on November 16.