MORELLI’S free ice cream day to celebrate the company’s 100th birthday was a lip-smacking, mouth-watering, finger-licking success.

Hundreds of well-wishers and customers of the ice cream parlour at Victoria Parade in Broadstairs turned out to share in the celebrations on Saturday.

Morelli family members were on hand to reminisce about how the Broadstairs store opened 75 years ago when Mario Morelli moved to Kent with his wife and three young sons to expand the family business that began in Scotland with ices being sold from a barrow and bicycle.

Face painting, clowns, entertainers, and the free ices kept the crowds happy, including Freda Foster, 93, who was at the store the day it first opened.

Chris Chalkin, manager of the Broadstairs parlour, is a familiar face at Morelli’s and has worked there for 40 years. He said: "Saturday’s celebration was superb. Morelli’s has expanded and moved with the times over the years but the Broadstairs shop has always been that little bit special for the family."

He thanked customers who supported the centenary celebrations and whose donation raised nearly £1,500 for east Kent hospices.