An ice-cream parlour complained to the press watchdog after a regional daily published inaccurate information provided by the local council.

Sheffield-based Treatz complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation over a story by city daily The Star that claimed it was one of 10 takeaways in Sheffield that had “been fined £1000” each for “breaching a trading curfew”.

Complaining under Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice, Treatz said it had not been fined by the city council, and as The Star had not approached it for comment it had not been able to refute these claims.

In response, The Star said it had been informed by the council that Treatz had been fined for breaching the coronavirus curfew.

However, it offered to print an interview with the owner of the business to put their side of the story on the record, and also to expand on the challenges facing local businesses during the pandemic.

After IPSO began an investigation into the matter, The Star received confirmation from the council that the fine against Treatz had been dropped, contrary to the earlier information it had received.

It offered to write another story about the parlour making clear that the fine had been dropped, resolving the matter to the owner’s satisfaction.

IPSO discontinued its investigation, and the full resolution statement can be read here.