An ice cream seller of 30 years has been crowned England's third best in a national award ceremony.

Robert Thompson is well known in Waltham Abbey after selling frozen treats in the area since he was seventeen.

He attended the award ceremony at the Ice Cream Alliance annual Expo held in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, yesterday, where he was interviewed by a panel of judges, coming third.

The 46-year-old said: "Given the number of ice cream mobilers that still operate in the UK today, to be shortlisted is a great achievement in itself."

Mr Thompson said he could continue serving Waltham Abbey for another 20 years: "On a personal level, it's always nice to now be serving the children of the schoolchildren I used to serve and seeing the family generations roll on. "

The prestigious competition is organised by The Ice Cream Alliance - the trade association for the UK's £1bn ice cream industry.

Robert started Thompson's Ice Cream in 1985 when he was just 17 years old and took his van out the day after passing his driving test.

"Being an ice cream man is all I ever wanted to do and as a boy I couldn't wait to get started," said Robert, whose business is based in Chingford.

"I love being out everyday meeting new people and having a chat with regular customers. It really makes you feel like part of the community.

"My family have been street traders since 1860 so I guess this kind of lifestyle must be in my blood - I wouldn't change it for anything."

Zelica Carr, Chief Executive of The Ice Cream Alliance said: "Robert can be proud of his achievement - there was very little to choose between the top three. All of them excelled in customer service and quality of product and they are a credit to the ice cream industry and an asset to their communities."