A stolen van which contained 2,500 pies has been recovered by police.
But sadly the pies are beyond saving.
Yesterday morning, North Yorkshire chef Tommy Banks revealed that his food van had been stolen, containing £25,000 worth of stock.
The pies were due to be sold at the York Christmas Market.
The white Fiat Ducanto van had been taken from a business park in Melmerby, near Ripon. Tommy made an appeal to the thieves to drop the pies off at a community centre so “someone who needs them could eat them”.
Tommy revealed today that the van, fitted with fake number plates, had been located by Cleveland Police.
It was abandoned in the Hemlington area of Middlesbrough.
He told his Instagram followers that the condition of the pies still remains a mystery, stating: “The health of the pies and their whereabouts are still as yet unknown.”
Later, North Yorkshire Police issued this update. “Initial enquiries revealed that the van, a white Fiat Ducato, was found abandoned with false number plates in the Hemlington area of Middlesbrough and was recovered by Cleveland Police.
“The vehicle was stored by Cleveland Police and enquiries were ongoing with them as to the contents of the van when it was recovered.
“However, we can now confirm that the van has been returned to its owner and there were still pies inside although we do not have an exact number.”
Cleveland Police said their officers came across an abandoned Fiat Ducato van with false plates shortly before 11.30pm on Friday 29 November.
Suspecting it had been stolen, the force carried out a forensic examination on the van.
A spokesperson said: “Yesterday we received a report from North Yorkshire Police, who had received an online crime report that a van had been stolen and had noted our message on the Police National Computer that this vehicle had been recovered.
“The vehicle has been forensically examined today and the owner of the van has been informed and will collect his vehicle soon.
“We are pleased that the owner has now been reunited with his van, but just as sad as everyone else to hear that the tasty pies in the van have sadly perished.”