Chef's stolen van found but 2,500 pies too spoiled to eat

A van that was stolen carrying 2,500 pies has been found abandoned, with its cargo too damaged to eat.

- Mark Brown

The Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks had appealed to thieves to "do the right thing" and give the van's contents, which also included custard and gravy, to people in need.

The refrigerated van was stolen from a business park in Melmerby, near Ripon, in North Yorkshire over the weekend.

Banks, who owns two restaurants and a pub in Yorkshire, posted on social media on Monday to say the van had been stolen. It contained £25,000 of stock, he said, including 2,500 pies that had his name on them.