A NORTH-EAST ice sculptor has been declared a smash hit at the York Festival of Food and Drink.

Andy Moscop sculpted a 5ft block of crystal ice, specially delivered from London's Covent Garden, in front of nearly 1,000 spectators in the festival's main arena.

He works for Mash Relief Chef Company, of Stockton, a firm which supplies relief chefs throughout the region.

Andy works in some of the region's most exclusive restaurants and has spent many years sculpting in international five star hotels.

Ed Hamilton-Trewhitt, of Mash, said: "This was a tremendous opportunity for Mash and the chefs in the North to prove that despite a national skills shortage, the North still has some of the finest chefs in the country, if not the world."