A family of fourth generation dairy farmers have been overwhelmed by the interest in their new, fresh ice-cream business as crowds flocked to sample the delicious produce.

The Stable family, of Edge Hill Farm, Mountbarrow Road, Ulverston, have just started their new venture, Cumbrian Cow Ice Cream.

Denise Stable plans to run the shop with her two daughters Heather and Jennifer and her daughter-in-law Anna, while her husband Mike continues to farm. The fledgling venture was a joint winner in this year's Evening Mail annual Business Boost along with Grasmere Chocolate Cottage. 

The milk for the home-made ice-cream is produced by the family's award-winning herd of Holstein Friesian cows that live on their second farm - Bolton Manor in Urswick. Bolton Manor is now run by Thomas Stable who is carrying on the next generation of the farm.

The beautiful sunny weather over the bank holiday weekend meant that everybody was in the mood for an ice-cream and the Stable family's offerings have really captured the taste buds of Cumbrian people.

Mrs Stable said: "We are still in shock about just how busy it has been. Every day we have had a queue across the farmyard right back to the gate, but we are so grateful for all the support from all our friends and family.

"It is a little tiring because we are selling out of ice-cream every single day and staying up late to make more for the next day but soon we will get into a routine.

"In some ways that is the best thing about the business because the ice cream we are selling has all been made less than 12 hours previously."

The whole family have pitched in to start up the business, with son Thomas being drafted in to control the business's Facebook page, which already has 3,260 likes and counting.

Along with the ice-cream parlour, there is also a little cafe, outdoor seating area and playground. Mrs Stable has got quite innovative in the cafe and her creations have proved very popular so far.

She said: "The ice-cream sundaes and the waffles have been a real favourite with customers and when we were running low on some flavours I came up with new ones. The Rocky Road flavour is one I came up with and it's ended up being one of the bestsellers."

However, Mrs Stable reported that the number one most popular flavour is the Definitely Dairy which is a real triumph for the fresh ice-cream business. It has no added flavouring, not even vanilla, it is made purely from the milk of the Stables' cows along with cream and sugar.

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