TRAINEE ice-cream maker Anne-Marie Pell has helped her employer scoop three awards in a national competition.

Judges for the Ice-Cream Alliance went just bananas for Anne-Marie's ice - called Just Bananas - made with fruit, milk and double cream from Dorset cows.

Anne-Marie, 20, only began working for the Mad George ice cream shop in Great George Street, Weymouth, a year ago but her tasty concoction beat national manufacturers to the title.

Anne-Marie said: "I was really, really shocked to win. I've never entered a competition before and I thought I was quite rubbish at cooking and things like that.

"So I was surprised and happy to win and it seems a really popular flavour."

Anne-Marie added that she put fresh bananas into her Just Bananas recipe later than usual in the process to preserve their flavour and texture.

Mad George's director, Mark Taylor, said: "I'm really proud of Anne-Marie.

"Very experienced and professional ice-cream makers from all over the country compete hard for these awards, so for a beginner to win at this level is an extraordinary result."

Mad George also won an award for their alcoholic, Piña Colada-inspired coconut surprise' flavour and a diploma of merit for their vanilla ice.