Trowbridge ice cream man Henry Nurkowski scooped first, second and third place in a national competition.

Mr Nurkowski, 60, who runs Z Nurkowski and Sons, has hailed his achievement in the national Ice Cream Alliance competition as the topping of his career.

The company, formed in 1968 by Mr Nurkowski, his late father Zygmund and brother Andrew, entered three different vanillas in the complete mix category of the contest, which took place at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate, last month.

Mr Nurkowski, who is also the landlord of the Lion and Fiddle in Hilperton, said: “I’m sure my dad would have been very proud.

“It feels absolutely fantastic and I doubt I’ll ever be able to top this achievement.

“I’m a senior judge for the Ice Cream Alliance so I know what good ice cream is... the judging panel said our samples tasted like good old-fashioned ice cream.”

Last year the firm won the same category, after entering for the first time since 1974.

Since last year’s triumph, the ice cream company’s sales from its four ice cream vans have gone up 18 per cent.

Mr Nurkowski said the success was down to the high quality ingredients he uses and the hard work of his staff.

Z Nurkowski and Sons has enjoyed a 36-year partnership with the National Trust to sell its products at Lacock.