A stolen van which contained 2,500 pies has been found by police, a Michelin-starred chef has confirmed.
Tommy Banks, who runs award-winning restaurants in North Yorkshire, said the van had been due to drop off the pies, worth £25,000, at York Christmas Market on Monday morning.
However, he believed the white Fiat Ducato had been snatched from a business park in Melmerby, near Ripon, on Sunday night.
The refrigerated van was found abandoned with false number plates in the Hemlington area of Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire Police said.