Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has allayed concerns a policy proposal could spell the end for ice cream vans, declaring: "Mr Whippy is safe in my hands."
The party, gathered in Bournemouth for its annual conference, is set to vote on a policy to cut air pollution by banning diesel-engined vehicles from running their engines while parked.
A blanket ban could prevent ice cream vans from using their engines to power the freezers and machines used to dispense 99s, the Sunday Times revealed today.
But Mr Farron told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show: "The way we make party policy is through conference, it's very democratic.
"The aim of that motion is well-intentioned, it's about making sure that we reduce carbon emissions.
"But targeting idling ice cream vans is absolutely not on my agenda and we shouldn't be doing it."
He added: "Mr Whippy is safe in my hands."
Additional reporting by PA
