A WELL-LOVED ice cream man from Bradford has died.

Vittorio Di Mascio, known as Mr Rossi, passed away at the age of 81 on Friday whilst in Italy.

It became customary for residents of the Pudsey, Bramley and Stanningley areas in Leeds to see Mr Rossi in his classic uniform serving ice creams out of his white and yellow van.

Family friend Marco Gallone described him as a "lovely sociable man" when paying tribute.

He said: "He was a friend of my late father. It was a shock when I heard the news.

"I used to visit him when I was younger. He kept the same van for years. He was a family man.

"He had been an ice cream man for a good 40/50 years.

"He was a very long-standing member of the ice cream van community. He saw a lot of change.

"He bought the van brand new in the early seventies. He was still using it to this day.

"During covid, he stopped but he carried on doing it afterwards. It was what gave him comfort after losing his wife and son, he threw himself into his job.

"He passed away in Italy when he was away on holiday.

"He was a lovely, sociable man. He had lovely people skills. He was well liked by his customers.

"He was old-school. He always wore his white jacket."

On their Facebook page, Rossis ices said: "RIP our good friend Vittorio Di Mascio (Mr Rossi).

"It’s with a heavy heart I'm the bearer of sad news he sadly passed away last night (Friday).

"RIP Vittorio you will be missed,"

"He served ice cream in a yellow and white Bedford Cf in Leeds (Pudsey / Bramley)."