AN ice cream war has broken out - two sellers are in dispute and their vans are following each other through a town’s streets.
They have also had arguments in front of parents and children.
The feud between Mr Whippy, Mohammed Mulla, and his former employee Mr Creamy, Jahangir Rashid, came to a head with confrontations outside two mosques in Blackburn.
Police and Blackburn with Darwen Council are now investigating the incidents and CCTV of the second one has emerged on YouTube.
The clashes echo a previous dispute over ice cream van sales in the town in June 2012 also involving Mr Mulla, of Tintern Crescent in Blackburn, and Halifax-based Mr Yummy Zeheer Ramzan which also saw a video appear on social media.
On Monday June 17 there was a confrontation between the two vendors outside Blackburn’s Troy Street Mosque which was repeated the following Friday evening at the nearby Cedar Street Mosque after which Mr Rashid, of the town’s Chestnut Gardens followed Mr Whippy down’s St James’s Road to Earl Street.
Mr Mulla’s CCTV, now on YouTube, shows the angry discussion which followed.
The feud dates from 2015 when Mr Rashid parted company with Mr Whippy after a bitter dispute over takings and wages and bought his own ice cream van.
Since then the two men have accused the other of harassment, breaking council rules over parking their vans at least 150 metres apart, and following their rival round pitches and streets in the town.
Mr Mulla, 48, said: “On June 21 Mr Rashid followed me, overtook me and blocked me with his ice cream van.
“He has done this before and has harassed me repeatedly.
“This is serious issue and could lead to collisions and put children at risk.
“I have reported this to the council and police. Mr Rashid is talking nonsense.”
Mr Rashid, 56, said: “I have not been harassing Mr Mulla. He has been harassing me.
“I did follow him on June 21 but that was to try and resolve the matter.
"I do not follow Mr Whippy around but he has followed me on several occasions.
"I have never tried to obstruct his van. This is a small and petty matter that has got out of hand.”
A police spokesman said: “We have received a complaint of nuisance.”
A council spokesman said: “We are aware two ice cream sellers are involved in a dispute. We are taking steps to resolve it.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel