A RECIPE dating back three generations has helped a butchers’ chicken curry pies to scoop a top award.

Linton Butchers were awarded a coveted Gold Award in the Scottish Craft Butchers Savoury Pastry Products Awards 2017.

The East Linton butcher also secured a Silver award for another three of its impressive pastries – sausage rolls, bridies and chicken and ham pies.

Elaine McKirdy, who owns the High Street business with her husband John, was “thrilled” to start the year with a bang.

“This is a great start to the new year,” she said.

“We’ve been making the chicken curry pies for a while and they’re great favourites but this is the first time we have ever entered them in the awards.”

John, a third-generation butcher, is responsible for the pie recipes – and the couple are remaining tight lipped about the secret!

Elaine and John took over Linton Butchers in 2013 and now employ eight other members of staff, producing all their own handcrafted pies and pastries, using all Scottish meat and poultry fillings, with their beef coming from suppliers just one mile away.

Elaine added: “We’re just a wee village but we have a wide customer base and hopefully our golden chicken curry pies will pull in the crowds.”

Linton Butchers was one of about 60 butchers from all over Scotland who collectively submitted nearly 300 different handcrafted pies, sausage rolls and bridies, which were judged across six categories in one of the industry’s most keenly contested awards.

Douglas Scott, chief executive of Scottish Craft Butchers, said this year’s standard of entry had raised the bar for the industry awards.

“Customers are demanding top quality and an ever-increasing range of outstanding products and Scottish butchers like Elaine and John are leading the way with outstanding products made to their own recipes on their own premises.

“Their chicken curry pies were judged to be among the very best you can buy in your local Scottish butchers and we’re delighted they’ve secured a Gold Award from their industry."