A LUNE Valley butchers took home a huge slice of the pie in the UK’s most prestigious competition for craft products.

Dales Butchers, at 2 Market Street, Kirkby Lonsdale, is celebrating after winning seven golds at The Smithfield Awards, held annually by the Q Guild of Butchers to recognise excellent products produced by members.

Category wins came with products: dry-cured back bacon; pork and Mr Vikkis chilli jam pie; pork and Mr Vikkis chilli jam sausages; Guinness and chilli black pudding; traditional beefburger and chicken delight (chicken fillet marinated in garlic and herbs, stuffed with soft cheese and wrapped in Parma ham).

Fiona Duckworth, the wife of Dales Butchers owner Mark Duckworth, was also delighted after her homemade lasagne picked up an award - her first.

Mark said: “We were really pleased to come away with such a decent clutch of awards and it was fabulous to see my wife Fiona pick up her first award. Let’s hope it’s her first of many."

Artisan butchers from across Britain were recognised in 18 categories, which ranged from traditional pork sausages, burgers, pies, bakery, ready meals and gluten free to beef and lamb products from Scotland, Wales and England.

The awards were judged blind by an independent panel of food and meat industry experts at City of Glasgow College. They were announced by BBC broadcaster and food expert Nigel Barden at the award ceremony at Stationers Hall in London.

Nigel said: "Everything I’ve witnessed about the Q Guild of Butchers convinces me it's an outstanding institution, representing some of the finest butchers the United Kingdom has to offer. The welfare of the animals, whose meat they sell and the farmers who rear them are of primary concern and in turn the customers who purchase their wares.

"Combine these with apprentice schemes and top-flight in house training and you produce leaders in their industry. I’m honoured to be involved with the awards and look forward to celebrating those who are at the zenith of the butchery profession.”

Mark Turnbull, chair of the Q Guild of Butchers commented: “The Smithfield Awards are always a celebration of butchers who are the top of their game, combining traditional skills and knowledge with innovation; great taste with immaculate sourcing.

"The 2018 award winners demonstrate this superbly. These butchers are custodians of a proud tradition of local artisan butchery and I’m delighted to celebrate their success.”