A SEAFRONT ice cream trader says he is serving nearly 1,500 people a day safely.

Peter Marrocco, 57, runs the famous family business on Hove seafront, which is known for its large queues.

Marrocco’s has been serving up its tasty treats, as it has done since 1967, throughout the lockdown period, facing criticism from the national media.

At the time, Mr Marrocco owner said a photograph of customers queueing for

its ice cream counter was “unfair” and “taken at an angle to create a media sensation”.

Now, the ice cream trader has a new system, which he says enables him to serve more than a thousand people a day safely.

He said: “Everyone has worked really hard to get this together and we want to thank the seafront team.

“This system allows us to maintain social distancing while the kids are smiling, knowing they can get an ice cream.”

The queue used to be on the west side of the shop’s entrance.

However, this was moved to the east side due to the building works at Medina House.

The new system is now over the road and on the promenade due to Southern Water works on the eastern side.

The new line is watched over by three or four marshals who remind people of social distancing and guide people across the road.

There are two-metre lines on the floor, gaps in the queue where people can pass and barriers, provided by Southern Water, to keep the line orderly.

This new system stretches along the promenade.

Mr Marrocco believes other businesses can learn from their system as guidelines are relaxed and they begin to reopen.

He said: “It is possible to run a business while being safe.

“The prom is relatively distanced.

“Even though the beach today is pretty busy, people now know the routine.

“If there was not a routine in place, I think they’ll be queueing in the road.

“If you’re following the Government guidelines, you’ve got social distancing in place and you’re doing a takeaway, I think you can run a business successfully keeping people safe at the same time and they appreciate that.

“If you ask anyone who is queueing up, we’ve had so much positive feedback from the marshals saying ‘thank you for looking after us, we feel safe’.”

Marshal Jo Hook, 38, said: “People tell us that we feel safe and they’re happy they can get some ice cream.

“With some people, it makes their week.”