A farmer who makes award-winning ice cream is hanging up his overalls shortly and retiring.

Robert and Helen Aspen have been making Butterton's Big Brown Cow ice cream since 2008 on Butterton's farm in Haslington near Sandbach.

(Photo: Deborah Bowyer/Nub News)

Last month (July), they notched up supreme champions with their apple pie ice cream at the International Cheese and Dairy Awards.

Not only that, they also won gold for their grand marnier ice cream and silver for their mince pie ice cream in the prestigious awards.

But at the end of August, they are retiring and adopting a quieter pace of life from farming.

(Photo: Deborah Bowyer/ Nub News)

Robert has been farming for 40 years and the couple opened the ice cream shop on their farm three years ago.

He says rising energy costs and a number of other factors have led him to make the decision.

"I have a lot of memories," said Robert. "It's be sad but I'm also excited about moving and starting a new life.

(Photo: Deborah Bowyer/Nub News)

"I've been milking cows since I was 13 years old. I always wanted to be a farmer."

Buttertons, in Buttertons Lane, has over a 100 different flavours of ice cream, all made using milk from their Brown Swiss cows.

Over the years, Buttertons has made both sweet and savoury ice cream, including brown bread ice cream and sesame seed ice cream.

"People come here and tell us it's the best ice cream they've ever tasted," said Robert.

The farm shop has animals for customers to watch such as rabbits, fowl, cows and ponies.

And Robert encourages visitors to take a walk around the boundary of the farm and take in the views and scenery.

"It will be sad to leave. I've been farming all my life."

The farm shop closes at the end of the month after the August bank holiday on August 28th.

More details about Buttertons can be found on their Facebook page here and website here