A TRIO of butchers have been sinking their teeth into a series of tasty awards.

North Berwick’s Anderson’s Quality Butcher, Linton Butchers of East Linton, and McKirdy Bros of Port Seton were all celebrating success at a variety of awards organised by Scottish Craft Butchers.

Anderson’s Quality Butchers were the big winners in the evaluation for beefburgers, speciality burgers and cured bacon.

Ryan Anderson, manager of the High Street butchers, was delighted with the success of the business, which picked up six awards.

Top of the pile was the diamond award for its smoked pancetta, while the business also struck gold for its smoked homecure bacon.

Anderson’s was also crowned black pudding champion for the south-east of Scotland, with silver awards for its Thai turkey burger, venison burger and gluten-free steak burger.

The black pudding will now be measured up against the best from the west of Scotland and the north before judges determine whose black pudding is king.

Mr Anderson, a partner in the business, singled out the awards for the bacon and also the black pudding as particularly pleasing.

He said: “I suppose the secret, without giving away any trade secrets, is the amount of passion we put into it – the time and effort into perfecting the recipe and how we like it.

“It has got to do with the care and attention from my staff, which is a major part in it.

“It is definitely a team effort.

“We all have input and without the loyalty and excellent staff we have, it would be difficult to concentrate on getting them perfected to the way we do.”

Meanwhile, Linton Butchers was also toasting success with a gold award for both its dry cured smoked bacon and dry cured bacon.

The High Street business also took silver for its steak burger, turkey Thai burger, lamb burger, pork and apple burger, and venison burger.

Finally, McKirdy Bros was crowned the south-east Scotland regional winner for its beef sausage.

Paul Boyle, president of Scottish Craft Butchers, added: “These evaluations always reveal really appealing products that craft butchers make and sell.

“The superior quality of ‘home’ cured products is widely acknowledged by customers and the innovative range comes as a response to customers becoming more adventurous with their tastes and they are always keen to support local businesses who make their own unique quality products. It is always worth going the extra mile for something extra special.”