MERCURY Local ice cream man, Tommy Brash (centre) has been on his patch for 47 years

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Tommy Brash, 71, has been selling ice cream in Newbiggin-By-The-Sea, Northumberland, since 1969 but was devastated when his latest bid for tender with the council was unsuccessful and he had to make way for a rival seller. Mr Brash, who plans to retire in three years, says has now been replaced by a Polish ice cream man who "put in a bigger offer" for the patch to Northumberland County Council.

This is his home and he is a part of everyone's family Steph Harmison, local resident

After mother-of-three Steph Harmison noticed his van parked elsewhere on Sunday and heard about his plight, she set up an online petition with the hashtag '#WeWantTommy' which has already had nearly 1,600 signatures. Ms Harmison and dozens of other residents will take part in a peaceful protest this weekend to ensure Mr Brash "knows that he is still wanted" by his loyal customers. The 26-year-old said: "Tommy is not just an ice cream man, in our area he is everyone's childhood hero too. We've never had another ice cream man and he's served several generations in most families round here. "Tommy has been the local ice cream man for 47 years, but yesterday I was out with my three boys and we noticed a different van in Tommy's spot. "I thought the other guy had just got there first, but Tommy says they've been allowed to replace him because they've put in a bigger offer with the council.

MERCURY The online petition has had nearly 1,600 signatures

"It's absolutely devastating, Tommy was actually crying when he started telling me about it. He works in a few different villages but this is his home and he is a part of everyone's family. "He knows everyone by name and he even comes out selling ice cream in winter. He's lovely to everybody. If the kids don't have enough money, he lets them pay him back the next day or even makes them a little one for free. "My husband Ronnie is 35 and Tommy has served him since he was a baby. Ronnie used to swap golf balls for ice cream with Tommy. "Most of us have never known it any other way. Tommy even gave my sons their first ever ice cream. "I'd never seen the new van before yesterday. All I know is that it's run by a Polish man. "Tommy told me he wants to retire in a couple of years but he wants to retire happy, and he can't do that knowing that he's been pushed out."

MERCURY Steph Harmison is calling for the reinstatement of Tommy's patch

Mr Brash, who is married with two children and five grandchildren, said: "The car park used to belong to freeholders and I would pay them £100 per year. They always looked after local people. "Three or four years ago the council took over the car park. I knew rent would go up and that they were strapped for cash, so I started paying £700 a year. "This year I sent off my tender as usual to apply for another year's licence in this spot, but I found out last month that I was unsuccessful. "I was absolutely devastated. I've been here for 47 years and I've seen kids become mums and mums become grandmas. "I sponsor the local lifeboat and the football team. I am part of the community. Nevertheless I am so humbled by the way people have responded. It shows that community spirit is still here. The council aren't right on everything. "Since 1st April, my spot now belongs to the other guy and I am on the outskirts of the site. "Thankfully the fishermen have cleared a place for me to park on the prom, so business has been OK, but not everyone can get to me. It's not as accessible where I am now.