An ice-cream man has been accused of drink driving while on his round.

Paul Hewlett, 49, of Waddon, is alleged to have been over the legal limit moments after serving children as they left Parish Church Junior School in Warrington Road on Thursday.

He was pulled over in an ice cream van by police in Harrison's Rise, Waddon, where he was arrested just before 4.30pm.

It is understood officers were responding to reports received from concerned parents at the school earlier in the week.

The van, believed to belong to a friend of Mr Hewlett, was seized by police and taken to a compound.

The 49-year-old, of Stafford Road, will appear at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Monday charged with drink driving and driving without valid insurance.

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Paul Hewlett outside his home on Monday

Shocked parents said the van was parked outside school at the end of classes most days, sometimes driven by Mr Hewlett, and at other times by a second man.

Jennifer Bentsi-Enchill, who has two children at Parish Church, said she was "horrified" to hear of the arrest.

The 42-year-old said: "The van is here almost every day, even when the weather is not that nice."

Waddon resident Barry Watkins saw the van being seized.

He said: "I thought it was funny at first, an ice-cream van being towed away. Then the policeman told me what had happened. It is terrible really."

Mr Hewlett, who lives near to the place of his arrest, declined to comment on the charges ahead of his court appearance.