A GOLDEN gourmet celebration with a difference will give ice cream connoisseurs good reason to visit a Ribble Valley village shop in 1997.

It is half a century since the first scoop of Hudson's ice cream was served from the shop in Chatburn and owners Maurice and Irene Smithson want to celebrate the 50th anniversary year in style.

The Smithsons have been in the shop for nine years but the Hudson's ice cream they sell is made from the original recipe, which has never changed since 1947.

And, to mark the special year, the Smithsons have organised a painting competition in local schools with prizes of free ices for a year.

The couple are also thinking of making an anniversary speciality ice cream for the busy summer period. Mrs Smithson said: "I came to the shop as a child with my dad but never thought I would be at this side of the counter, serving my favourite ice cream!

"The recipe is secret but we use fresh milk, cream, butter and eggs and our fruit ices are made with produce we grow ourselves.

"Maurice is the main ice cream maker but during hot weather it is not unusual to see us making ice cream in the dairy at the back of the shop all day and all night, just to keep the customers served!"

The Smithsons make around 10 gallons of ice cream at a time and certainly don't intend to expand the business.

Mrs Smithson said: "We want to continue to make our ice cream as it has always been made. We wouldn't want it any other way and I am sure the customers wouldn't either."

Traditional vanilla has always taken some licking in the popularity stakes but more adventurous flavours such as melon and ginger, orange and brandy and even chocolate and toffee nut fudge have also been "hot" favourites.

Mrs Smithson added: "We are thinking about creating a special ice cream for golden anniversary summer but nothing has been decided."

The ice cream art competition is due to be judged by Ribble Valley mayor Councillor Eileen Lowe next week and the mouthwatering prizes will be presented every week for the rest of 1997!

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