Seventy years ago, there were around 20,000 ice cream vans on UK roads. But despite their nostalgic and beloved place in British culture, the ice cream van is at risk of being frozen out. Data from Ice Cream Alliance suggested there were only 2,500 to 5,000 ice cream vans still operating over the last five years. READ MORE: Ozzy Osbourne Black Sabbath final gig 'boosted West Midlands economy by £28m' But new research from car insurance firm Adrian Flux paints an even bleaker picture - and it says figures for the West Midlands are 'concerning' for ice cream lovers. Data collected from 362 councils suggested that, between May and July 2025, there were only 1,538 vans left on UK roads. That figure included licensed street trade vans and those with permission from their local council to operate in certain areas, plus any others operating that they were aware of. There are only 20 vans per one million people in the West Midlands, according to the research . The region ranked fourth out of the nine in the UK analysed. Sandwell was said to only have 17 ice cream vans left. Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Nuneaton, and Bedworth only have eight, seven and three vans respectively. Also contributing to the low numbers is Rugby - where there are currently no licensed ice cream vans on record, and Birmingham , which reportedly doesn’t license them at all. Adrian Flux, trying to explain the reason for a decline said that, even though the cost of fuel has fallen since the rise in 2022, it remains costly for those having to refuel regularly. Ingredients are also more expensive than ever. The insurance firm's general manager, Gerry Bucke, said: "Getting a cone from the local ice cream van means something to all of us, so these numbers are disheartening for business owners and customers in the UK. “We take great pride in supporting ice cream van owners across all four countries in the UK, but it is clear that this beloved tradition will soon be on the way out if not addressed. ‘While E-vans might be a reasonable solution to the ongoing environmental concerns, keeping any form of ice cream van on our streets will require consumers to be supportive of them. “If you’re lucky enough to still have a local ice cream van or spot one while you’re out and about, if you’re able to, have a cone for old time’s sake. "A sweet treat and supporting a small business is a win-win situation.”