You’ve heard of a Coke float right? Well, this is similar (but different) as the world’s first amphibious ice cream van set sail on the River Thames.

 

Ice cream man Jamie Campbell serves from the world’s first amphibious ice cream van, the HMS Flake 99 (PA)

Marking the beginning of National Ice Cream Week, ice cream man Jamie Campbell captained the vessel – helpfully dubbed HMS Flake 99.

It has a top speed of five knots on water and has chimes that play the opening bars of Rod Stewart ‘s crooning classic ‘We Are Sailing’.

 

Battersea Power Station gets a look at the ice cream van (PA)

Owners Fredericks, makers of Cadbury’s ice cream, said they have big plans for their rather unusual creation.

‘We are considering taking the remarkable vehicle across the Channel and onto the canals of Venice to champion Britain’s beaches and give our continental cousins the ultimate taste of the British summertime,’ the unnecessarily triumphant PR blurb said.

 

The HMS Flake 99 passes the Houses of Parliament (PA)

There appears to be no evidence whatsoever that Mr Campbell sold any ice creams while on the Thames, so we suspect his business model could sink without a trace before long.

National Ice Cream Week ends on Sunday June 5th.