The ice cream van cometh

29 July 2011 Last updated at 00:52 GMT

The distant sound of approaching chimes, the promise of a soft gloopy cornet, and reaching the front of the queue by the sliding window - there is little doubt that the ice cream van has charmed its way into modern British cultural life.

For BBC Radio 4, sound designer Jim Carey jumped into the colourful world of all things ice cream - and on his journey met some well-known van fans - comedian Johnny Vegas, Status Quo's Francis Rossi, and elusive artist Banksy.

Continue reading the main story To see the enhanced content on this page, you need to have JavaScript enabled and Adobe Flash installed. The Ice Cream Van Cometh can be heard on BBC Radio 4 at 1030 BST on Saturday 30 July - and on the BBC iPlayer.

Audio by Loftus Audio/Inventive Audio. Images courtesy Whitby Morrison, Jim Carey, Emelia Brindisi, Getty Images, PA and Christie Goodwin.

Includes music by Henry Reser and Status Quo. Slideshow production by Paul Kerley. Publication date 29 July 2011.

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Ice cream treat ends royal visit

1 July 2011 Last updated at 17:26 GMT Frank's founder Joe Dallevalle, 85, watches on as the Prince of Wales prepares to taste his ice cream Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall have ended his annual visit to Wales with a tasting of a specially-produced bara brith ice cream.

The special flavour was purposely created to tempt the royal taste buds during the tour of Frank's Ice Cream, near Ammanford, Carmarthenshire.

The prince's partiality to the buttered slice of the traditional Welsh fruit cake is no secret.

And he ended his week-long annual tour of Wales with a cool box full.

A bodyguard was seen heaving a large box of it into the prince's chauffeur moments before he left.

But the prince appeared to prefer another type of ice cream he tried during the hour-long visit.

"Before I go I just want to say how thrilled I have been to have this brief opportunity to visit Frank's ice cream emporium," said the prince.

He added: "I shall leave here now having discovered a brand new experience which is clotted cream ice-cream. I think that that deserves an award."

As he left the prince was presented with a solid silver ice cream scoop specially made by jeweller Mari Thomas.

"Fantastic," said the prince, as he took it out of the presentation box. "It will also double as a tie-pin," he joked, holding up in front of his shirt.

Lifetime's supply

Frank's Ice Cream has sales across the UK and abroad and has recently expanded.

Joe Dallavalle, 85, who headed the firm for 40 years, said: "We didn't know even if he likes ice cream but everyone knows he likes bara brith so we created a new flavour," he said.

"I don't know if liked it, but if he did he can certainly have a lifetime's supply for free. Why not, he is royalty."

Earlier, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visited a farm shop in Carmarthenshire.

They started the day at a dairy farm in Mynddygarreg near Kidwelly to discuss the sustainability of cattle farming in the region.

They were also taken to the Cwmcerrig Farm in Gorslas where the Watkins family have invested ?900,000 in building a farm shop and grill on the site.

Dairy Crest coordinated four short dairying workshops run by independent experts, which were showcased during the couple's visit to Fferm y Garreg in Mynddygarreg.

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