A Salisbury care home welcomed a special visit by an ice cream van recently to make a resident’s wish come true: a 99 Flake on her 99th birthday.

Stella Parsons told carers of her wish for the crumbly chocolate treat and enjoyed it with a beaming smile in the sunshine outside Colten Care’s Braemar Lodge.

She was first in the queue when Fat Sam’s Ice Creams parked up at the Stratford Road home.

Stella told the care home’s staff: “I can’t believe you managed to get an ice cream van here for me. I love an ice cream with a flake in it.”

Behind the scenes, team members had to act quickly when the original van they tried to arrange for the sweet surprise was unable to make it.

Customer support advisor Tanya Williams and companionship team member Carol Petty issued an appeal for a replacement through social media, to which Fat Sam’s was first to respond.

Tanya said: “The appeal worked, delighting Stella. And as it turned out, residents, families and staff alike were able to enjoy an ice cream. The weather was perfect, with sunshine and smiles all the way.”

Stella, whose two daughters and a niece shared the moment with her, said of the 99: “It was just what I wanted. Perfect.”

Manufacturer Cadbury’s developed the original Flake more than 100 years ago when an employee at its Bournville factory noticed thin streams of excess milk chocolate falling from moulds cooled into flaky ripples.