A RYEDALE ice cream firm is celebrating after scooping a top accolade.

Ryeburn of Helmsley has won the First Flavour Class, again, at the Ice Cream Alliance National Ice Cream Competition, with its cherry-flavoured ice cream.

The company started 31 years ago, after using surplus milk produced from its farm. It now produces a variety of ice cream and sorbets and employs more than 12 people.

“This is brilliant,” said David Otterburn, the owner of Ryeburn of Helmsley. “It’s great to be awarded these accolades - it makes all the blood, sweat and tears worthwhile.”

The National Ice Cream Competition is held every year by the Ice Cream Alliance (ICA), the UK trade association for the ice cream industry. The 2020 competition was judged by 43 experts over two days at the Ice Cream and Artisan Food Show in Harrogate.

Hundreds of products are submitted across 13 categories ranging from Best Vanilla, to alternative products featuring dairy-free, low-fat, high-protein, no-sugar and many more.

“Congratulations to David Otterburn and all his team at Ryeburn of Helmsley,” said Zelica Carr, from the Ice Cream Alliance.

“There was very stiff competition. This flavour category saw some outstanding entries and the judges were hard pressed to choose a winner.”