A stolen van belonging to a chef Tommy Banks and containing 2,500 pies has been recovered.

Michelin starred chef Tommy Banks who owns three restaurants in York and North Yorkshire - The Black Swan at Oldstead, Roots in Marygate in York, and The Abbey Inn, Byland, had one of his vans stolen with the pies inside.

He appealed to the thieves to drop them somewhere so people in need can have them when he posted on Instagram on Monday (December 2) to say his van with £25,000 of stock in the back had been taken from just outside Ripon.

Mr Banks said in the video that the stock – including steak and ale, turkey and butternut squash pies, as well as gravy and custard – was for his stall on York Christmas Market.

North Yorkshire Police have said today that they received a report on Monday that a refrigerated vehicle containing valuable food stock including pies, had been stolen from a business park in Melmerby near Ripon over the weekend of November 29 to December 2.

A police spokesman said: "The vehicle, a white Fiat Ducato van, was found abandoned with false number plates in the Hemlington area of Middlesbrough and was recovered by Cleveland Police. 

"An investigation is ongoing into the theft and anyone who has any information is asked to get in touch. 

"Please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 and pass information to the Force Control Room.

"If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

The force has not said whether the pies were recovered.

Please quote reference 12240219809 when passing on information.