Stolen pie van belonging to Michelin-starred chef found abandoned by police

The pies were made for York Christmas Market. Picture: Tommy Banks/PA

A stolen van that contained 2,500 pies belonging to a Michelin-starred chef has been found by police, but the food inside has “sadly perished”.

Tommy Banks, who owns two restaurants and a pub in North Yorkshire, posted on Instagram on Monday morning to say his van with £25,000 (€30,136) of stock in the back had been taken from just outside Ripon over the weekend.