Bangers are a smash! (From Free Press Series)

Bangers are a smash!

TWO local butchers from the Monmouth area have picked up an array of top prizes for their produce at a prestigious awards ceremony.

Leading the way locally was N S James and son, Butchers of Raglan, who won five gold awards for their traditional pork sausage; Cumberland sausage; faggots and peas; beefburger; and lamburger entries.

Hancock Butchers of Monnow Street in Monmouth, received gold awards for their traditional pork sausage; lamb and mint sausage; beefburger; and lamburger entries.

Both shops were among the 250 entries that vied against each other in an intense competition for the eleven champion categories presented at this years South Wales Counties Awards For Excellence In Meat Products, held in Swansea.

Rare breeds butcher Neil James said: "We are a small outfit where quality is our number one priority.

"It is always a honour to be recognised officially for our achievements as local people that have used us for the past 45 years already know that our quality is among the best.

"We sell locally reared and killed meat to ensure good quality and to maintain that meat tastes like it always used to."

The awards were organised by Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion Wales.

HCC's Marketing Executive Graham Titchener said: "The outstanding element in this year's competition was the quality of the entries. The butchers had set their minds to accept our challenge of adding value to red meat products."