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Rival ice cream vans clash in front of stunned children in turf war

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Rival ice cream vans clash in front of stunned children in turf war

A turf war between two ice cream sellers fighting over pitches that threatened to boil over during the summer heatwave is being investigated by police.

The pair of frosty traders named Mr Whippy and Mr Creamy have been seen fighting in front of shocked children and parents.

Mr Whippy, Mohammed Mulla, and his former employee Mr Creamy, Jahangir Rashid, have been getting caught up in heated exchanges over the placement of their vans of frozen snacks. 

The pair were spotted arguing after one man claimed he was overtaken and then blocked off by his competitor. 

Tensions date back to 2015 when Mr Rashid parted company with Mr Whippy after a dispute over takings and wages.

Frosty relationship: Mr Creamy, Jahangir Rashid (left), clashed with his former boss, Mohammed Mulla aka Mr Whippy (right)

Losing their cool: Rashid leaning out of his service hatch to remonstrate with Mr Whippy, who accused him of blocking off his van as their turf war escalated

He bought his own ice cream van and started trading in and around Blackburn, Lancashire.

Since then the two men have accused one another of harassment and breaking council rules over parking their vans at least 150 metres apart.

The pair have also been accused of having heated arguments in front of families and following each other around their rival patches.

There have also been accusations of underhand tactics round the streets of the town, such as blocking one another off with their vehicles.

But the spat came to a head last month during separate nasty confrontations outside two mosques only a few days apart.

Footage emerged online of the second clash on June 21 which shows the pair in a fiery confrontation.

Mr Mulla, 48, claims the disagreement was sparked when he was blocked off by his rival and former protege.

He said: ‘On June 21 Mr Rashid followed me, overtook me and blocked me with his ice cream van.

Whipping up a storm: In a YouTube video the pair can be seen crossing paths on the streets of Blackburn, Lancashire. Council rules state they have to be at least 150 metres apart

99 problems: Mohammed Mulla aka Mr Whippy has had beef with other fellow ice cream sellers in the past. He is pictured here arriving at Blackburn Magistrates Court in 2012 where gave evidence that Zeheer Ramzan, or Mr Yummy, attacked him and his ice cream van with a tyre iron

‘He has done this before and has harassed me repeatedly. This is a 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.’

CCTV taken by Mr Mulla, which has been posted now on YouTube, shows the angry discussion which followed. 

The clip shows the two men leaning out of their van window hatches and angrily gesticulating at each other. 

Three other video have been posted of their spat, showing the rival vans crossing paths on Blackburn estates. 

Mr Rashid hit back and denied ever trying to get in the way of his ex-boss.

The 56-year-old 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. 

 Not-so-Fab: Police and council officials are investigating the claims of harrassment made by the rival ice cream sellers 

Flakey: The rival ice cream sellers have been accused of having heated arguments in front of families and following each other around their each other’s patches as part of their turf war

‘I have never tried to obstruct his van. This is a small and petty matter that has got out of hand.’  

The clashes echo a previous dispute over ice cream van sales in June 2012 also involving Mr Mulla and Halifax-based Mr Yummy, Zeheer Ramzan.

He accused Mr Ramzan of attacking him and his van with a tyre iron. Locals the dispute began when one would offer four two-scoop cones with a chocolate flake for £2, after which the other would offer the same deal for 10p cheaper.

In the latest confrontations involving Mr Mulla, the first took place on June 17, outside Blackburn’s Troy Street Mosque.

It was repeated the following Friday evening at the nearby Cedar Street Mosque after which Mr Rashid followed Mr Whippy down’s St James’s Road to Earl Street. 

Blackburn with Darwen Council and Lancashire Constabulary are now investigating the two incidents and are probing a ‘nuisance complaint’.

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.’

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