A WORCESTER butchers has come out top of the chops in a trade competition.

H Dayus in St John’s swept the board at the BPEX East of England Roadshow and Product Evaluation Event.

The contest – the first of seven taking place around the country – sets out to reward those excellent meat products made and sold by local butchers.

The family-run business triumphed in four of the 12 categories, as well as taking the overall champion title for the East of England with its Moroccan ready meal.

In addition to the ready meal category, the shop also claimed the champion titles in the traditional and speciality pork sausage categories, and third generation young butcher Tristan Meier was crowned young sausage maker – a title he has won before – with a pork and leek speciality sausage.

Business owners Craig and Gina Saunders picked up the awards.

Mrs Saunders said: “We’re absolutely delighted, particularly for Tristan, who makes all of our sausages. All our pork is free range rare breed – from lop eared pigs – which we get from a local farmer and its quality really is evident.

“Winning awards is important to us as it shows our customers and potential customers that we are consistently making products of the highest quality.”