A stolen van containing £2,500 has been found by police, a Michelin-starred chef has confirmed.
Tommy Banks, who runs an award-winning restaurant in North Yorkshire, said the van was due to drop off £25,000 worth of pies at York Christmas Market on Monday morning.
However, he believed the white Ducato was taken from a business park in Melmerby, near Ripon, on Sunday night.
North Yorkshire Police said the refrigerated van was found abandoned in the Hamlington area of Middlesbrough with incorrect number plates.
Mr Banks admitted the episode was “a bit like a Wallace and Gromit sketch”.
“I don’t think the guys who stole the van were necessarily trying to steal the pies. I think they were trying to steal the van and the pie was just collateral,” he said.
He still doesn’t know that the car was still full of steak and ale, turkey and cranberry, and butternut squash-filled pastries.
“A van is a van, but the work that goes into making a pie is a lot,” he said.
He added that he felt “sad” that such a large amount of food could go to waste.
North Yorkshire Police previously said an investigation into the theft had been launched and asked anyone with information to get in touch.
Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Soundscatch up with the latest Episode of Look North Or tell us a story you think of. We should cover it here.