ANGELO Di Marco, who sold ice creams in Maidstone for half a century, has died at the age of 94.

Mr Di Marco began working for his father, Francesco, in the 1920s, and took over the business, which he ran until 1978 when he was 72. Francesco Di Marco, an Italian, started the business just before the First World War.

The shop he opened in Week Street was on the site of what is now the Music Shop, close to St Francis' RC Church and Brenchley House.

In the 1930s, Francesco Di Marco's sons, Angelo and Augustus, took over the family business, which became Di Marco Brothers Maidstone.

They developed the business, which was both an ice cream factory and a café. The business closed during the war and the premises became a temporary post office.

When Angelo Di Marco re-started the business after the war, he began by selling ice cream for one hour a day, causing long queues in the road outside. Over the summer, staff at Di Marco's would cycle around laden with ice creams, ringing their bells to attract customers.

Mr Di Marco sold ice creams from kiosks across Maidstone, including Mote Park, Penenden Heath and on the banks of the River Medway in and around the town. The staff of about 20 included many of Mr Di Marco's large family - his wife, Dorcas, and his four children.

When he retired, Mr Di Marco sold his shop and let out the former ice cream factory to businesses.

He spent his retirement at his home in Holtye Crescent, Maidstone, where he lived with his family. He had 12 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He and Dorcas had been married 62 years.

Mr Di Marco's daughter, Christina Scarsbrook, said: "He loved his work and the fact that it was very much a family business." She added: "He lived for his family. He tried his hardest to educate us all. You could not have wished for a more wonderful father."