Ice cream parade dreams of scooping world record

The drivers hoped to freeze out future competition with an 84-van parade

Ice cream van drivers hoped to scoop a new world record for the longest parade of ice cream vans - although they didn't quite make 99.

Eighty-four drivers from across Europe gathered in Crewe to whip around a two-mile parade circuit.

Drivers needed a sprinkle of luck after a false start on the first try, but their fears soon melted away with some encouragement from the Guinness World Records adjudicator.

The parade lasted half an hour.

The two-mile parade took place in Wychwood Park in Crewe

Organiser Stuart Whitby said drivers were "making history"

Staffordshire based ice cream van driver Karl Simcock said it was "quite a sight" to see so many of the vans in one place.

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Retailers travelled from across Europe, including Belgium and the Republic of Ireland, to take part.

Organisers are still waiting to hear if their bid has been successful - the only requirement to qualify as a satisfactory parade was to ensure there was never more than a 10m gap between vans.

In other words, enough room to mind that child.

Organiser Stuart Whitby said: "We're making history. It's all about celebrating the ice cream van - it's an icon."