SHOPPERS in the Trafford Centre had an unexpected treat when some of them were served with free ice cream.

The ice cream scoops were served from what the centre claims is the smallest ice cream van in the world.

Just 47 inches long, 39 inches high and 31 inches wide, the vehicle has a maximum speed of 12 mph.The Nice Cream Van, as the vehicle is called, is visiting intu shopping centres across the country. The van began its cross-country tour in the Trafford Centre on Wednesday 2 August

Richard Paxton, the general manager at the Intu Trafford Centre said: “We’re delighted to have created what we believe is the world’s smallest ice cream van but the real win will be seeing the smiles it puts on people’s faces at intu shopping centres around the country for those lucky enough to get free ice cream.

“We work really hard to create experiences that will surprise and delight our customers and make each individual shopping trip a happier, more memorable one”

The idea to provide free ice cream came after research showed that eating ice cream was fourth on the list of the top 10 things that make people happy in Manchester in Summer.

According to Fly Research, who came up with the list, other things that make Mancunians happy include: having a BBQ with friends and family, watching the sunset, smelling freshly cut grass and lying in the sun.

Given the shortage of sun recently, ice-cream appears to be the easiest way of providing a dose of happiness .

The same research also revealed that three quarters (75 per cent) of those in Manchester feel happier in the summer than they do in the winter, with sunshine (30 per cent), longer days (21 per cent) and summer holidays (18 per cent) the top three reasons given.

The list was drawn up after questioning a thousand people in July.