A FORMER cattle trailer has been transformed into a “steam train” with woodburning oven to create pizzas in only 90 seconds.

Paul Bulmer created Pizzaloco after starting to cook pizzas on a bread oven he built in his garden in Knayton, near Thirsk.

He spent a year transforming the trailer into a steam train with the wood-fired oven at the back.

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Now two years on, the business has taken off and in addition to the Bishop Auckland Food Festival, Pizzaloco will be attending other similar days, as well as weddings, pubs and corporate events.

Mr Bulmer said: “When I started cooking the pizzas in the garden, I thought these are the best I have ever tasted. So I thought why not make a mobile one.

“Just like a real steam train, it has a firebox, but instead of a coal furnace, it has been fitted with a traditional woodburning oven based on centuries- old Italian design.

“We started to experiment with it in 2012, and then last year was a fantastic success.

People keep giving us accolades.

We have been told our pizzas are as good as Italian ones.

“We chose the Bishop Auckland Food Festival because it is exactly what we are about, good-quality food.

“We are really looking forward to it and hope the weather is good.

“We attract a lot of attention wherever we go. We have a steam whistle, which always proves popular with the children.”

Paul Bulmer, along with his wife Di and his manager Emily Trenholm, carefully source all their ingredients and use local produce where possible.

“We look for really goodquality produce as that helps give the ‘wow’ factor,” he said.

“The pizzas are made in front of the customer. We have our specials, but if someone wants something different then we will make it.”

He said the wood-fired pizzas concept has been highlighted by a number of celebrity chefs and because of that he believes it is becoming more and more popular with people.

To cope with demand, Mr Bulmer has also built a pizza shed, which he also takes to events.

In the summer, they expect to make up to 2,500 pizzas a month.