ONE of the region's most famous independent ice cream makers has been saved.

Award-winning Brymor Ice Cream was facing closure after more than 30 years following the sale of the family farm, at High Jervaulx, near Leyburn, North Yorkshire for £3.5m.

However, the new owners did not wish to continue the ice cream business.

Richmond entrepreneur Paul Hodgson has come forward to rescue the business - with Nicola Moore, the 23-year-old granddaughter of the Brymor founder, carrying on with the ice cream parlour which has become a major tourist attraction in the Dales.

Ms Moore said: "It is excellent really, I am just relieved and happy, I am still going to be involved with the management and there are jobs for the ten staff.

"It has been in the family for so long, it is good that it will carry on, my dad would be pleased after he worked so hard, seven days a week for thirty years.”

The Brymor brand began in the 1980's by Brian Moore and wife Brenda, with son Robert and his wife Diane, in Harrogate following the introduction of milk quotas.

The Northern Echo:

ICE TO SEE YOU: Brian and Brenda Moore with one of their tasty ice-cream 'cakes'

They moved to Jervaulx in 1992, after outgrowing their old site and established the award-winning ice cream parlour. This was carried on by Nicola following her grandparents' death in 2011 and her dad’s death last year.

The 213 acre farm which had 100 pedigree Guernsey cows was one of the few farm makers of dairy ice cream left in Britain.

But Nicola was unwilling to carry on alone and after the farm was sold, following her father’s death, the business was facing closure.

Now with the new backer, it means they can remain on the site and will lease the ice cream parlour back from the farm's new owner.

When local farmer and businessman Mr Hodgson heard, he was determined to get involved.

With wife Judith he runs the Richmond Equestrian Centre, nearby Akebar caravan park and the Friars Head restaurant.

He said: "Brymor is a fantastic family business with a great heritage and a good team of staff. We are delighted that Nicola Moore is going to take over the running of the business. It’s a highly recognised brand that customers in the North-East and Yorkshire really value.

“The first priority is to stabilise the business and look towards expanding, we see it as a vibrant brand and something that will be around for another 30 years.”

Although the cows are being sold, Nicola says they will be using Guernsey or Jersey milk to preserve the special Brymor taste, and making the full range of 35 different flavours built up by the family to a series of special secret recipes.