AN ice cream maker has enjoyed a sales rush on the back of soaring summer temperatures.

Richmond Ice Cream, manufacturer of Nestle ice cream brands, sold more than three million Fab ice lollies in only a fortnight - equivalent to 216,000 a day.

The company estimates that, placed end to end, the ice lollies would stretch from Manchester to Paris.

Matthew Wilson, category marketing manager, said: "It is no surprise that when the sun shines the sales rise, but to have seen over three million portions of Fab sold in two weeks is tremendous.

"It conjures up fantastically nostalgic summer images when we see that an old favourite like Fab still remains most popular with young and old across the UK."

Fab was launched in 1967 and hit the shelves months before man landed on the moon.

This year, it celebrates its 35th anniversary as the UK's No1 ice lolly.

Last year, 52 million Fabs were sold.

Richmond Ice Cream produces almost 20,000 Fab lollies an hour at its factory near Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire.