A SOUTH Cumbria ice-cream entrepreneur is hoping to attract new customers after he created products specifically designed for vegans.

Steven Darvill is the owner of The Handmade Ice Cream Company, based in Low Wood, near Haverthwaite.

This idea has come about because of requests from people who want to enjoy the dessert but do not eat or drink animal produce.

Mr Darvill, 34, of Grange, said: "I have been asked quite a few times for it so I just started doing soya and almond milk based products."

He is originally from Bath, Wiltshire, and started his company five years ago following a career as a pastry chef, which lasted for about 15 years.

"I originally started it at home (then Newby Bridge) and then I moved into my current premises (in the Clock Tower Business Centre) because it was going so well," he said.

Mr Darvill's motivation was to provide a high-quality ice-cream to the market.

He explained: "I started the company because there were so many ice-creams out there but they were all making such a bad product. I decided to make chef-made ice-cream.

"Being a pastry chef, I always liked making it."

Mr Darvill did not find changing from dairy produce to vegan products made making his ice-cream too challenging.

"It takes a little bit more playing around - but I do that all the time," he joked.

The first batch was taken by a hotel in Windermere.

"They have identified a market for ice-cream for people who have specific dietary requirements," Mr Darvill said.

Mr Darvill was unsure of the exact number of flavours he produces for his regular ice-cream but said it was "about 20 to 30".

He is unsure about how many of these will also be available for vegans.

"I will have to do things on a case-by-case basis," he added.

In May 2014, Mr Darvill was one of two winners of the CN Group’s Business Boost prize, which earned him a lucrative £10,000 advertising campaign to help develop his businesses.

Last year his products appeared on the shelves of Booths' supermarkets for the first time.

They have also been sold at Tebay Services, Low Sizergh Barn, Hazelmere Cafe and Bakery in Grange, and the Abbey House, Barrow, which sells a range of his flavours in its restaurant, Oscars.

Holker Hall, Cartmel Village Shop and wholesaler W McClure Ltd, of Windermere, are also on his stocklist.