A HUSBAND-and-wife team from Tong have played it cool to win a national award for their ice cream.

Mark and Karen Goodall took home the best artisan dairy ice cream award at the National Ice Cream Competition, held in Harrogate.

The Goodall family have been farming at Manor Farm, Tong near Bradford for 100 years and set up a small ice cream making facility 30 years ago to use up surplus milk from their 220 strong dairy herd.

Since then their ice cream parlour has become a popular spot for locals and walkers and the quality of their ice cream has spread by word of mouth to the extent that they supply restaurants across the region.

Mark, who runs the farm in partnership with his uncle Stephen Goodall, said: “When we started the ice cream business it was a big learning curve and I never expected to win such a prestigious accolade.

“It is fantastic to have won especially as we are just a small family business. Its mainly me helped by my mother Margaret – we really can’t believe we have won against so many superb ice cream makers.”

Mark added: “I really enjoy making ice cream and experimenting with new flavours. At the moment we have a range of 30 flavours with the current best seller being cinder toffee and vanilla.

“Of course, it helps that we are using our own high quality Yorkshire full fat milk and cream which produces such delicious ice cream.”

The couple have also created a farm themed children’s play area outside the parlour complete with an array of farm animals for visitors to look at.

Zelica Carr, Chief Executive Officer for the Ice Cream Association which ran the competition, said: "I am delighted for Mark and Karen who, until now, were two of the unsung heroes of the ice cream industry quietly going about their business.

“Their hard work, skill and dedication have paid off and hopefully this national recognition will give a further boost to their business.”