Owners of the award-winning Taste of Sidmouth will be handing over the reins of the business after a successful seven-year run.

Sisters Hazel Jones and Laura Bennett have said goodbye and thank-you to their loyal customers and staff, as today (Friday) marks their last day in the Old Fore Street premises.

New owner Cathy Inglis will be taking on the popular ice cream parlour and coffee shop.

Fans of Taste will be relieved to hear that Cathy plans to continue selling its trademark frozen treats, which are hand-made on the premises.

Hazel and Laura said: “We would like to thank our suppliers, staff and loyal customers for all their support and friendship.

“We have loved running Taste and are proud of what we have achieved.

“We wish Cathy every success for the future.”

They also thanked their parents, Anne and Colin, for their support over the last seven years.

Cathy - along with her children, Sophie, 16, and Thomas, 14 - intends to keep things ‘nice and local’.

“I think it’s an amazing business and we are excited to be taking it on,” she said.

The business was formerly Kendrick’s before the sisters took it on.

Their artisan ice cream has won prizes at the Taste of the West Awards, as well as other industry accolades.