A BUTCHER has scooped an award at a world championship for one of its pies.

The Dales Traditional Butchers, of Kirkby Lonsdale, has taken the Diamond Award for its Scotch and Haggis Pie at the 21st World Championship Scotch Pie Awards.

Organisers say this makes their pies the best savouries in the world, following their success in the Cold Savoury category.

Mark Duckworth, who took over the business in 1999, said: “We are delighted with our win and can go away with our heads held very high indeed. To have been judged as one of the best against so many of our peers is a huge achievement.”

The business also featured highly in two other categories at the awards, which are organised by the Scottish Bakers organisation.

They took gold for their pork and black pudding pie in the cold savoury category, and bronze for their sausage roll in the sausage roll category.

Mark started out as a ‘butcher’s boy’, at just 13-years-old, before getting his first full-time job as a local butcher’s apprentice at 15 and being awarded the ‘young butcher of the year’ title just two years later.

He also had a stint at Lancashire’s prestigious Michelin star restaurant, Northcote Manor

Head judge Ian Nelson said: “For 21 years now professional pie makers throughout Scotland, and from even further afield, have been so proud of their produce that they have taken the time and trouble to enter The World Championship Scotch Pie Awards, and I must say that the standard keeps getting better each year. All of our winners deserve the accolades they have taken home.”

Over 75 professional pie makers entered around 460 of their best products into 11 categories this year, creating a fierce competition.

TV presenter and entrepreneur Carol Smillie, who presented the awards, said: “The World Championship Scotch Pie Awards really is one of the highlights of my year.

“I have been hosting since 2016 and I have seen many well deserved winners in all the categories take to the stage that I know what it means to win. Every winner here today should be proud of their success and I hope they all see their businesses grow and prosper.”