A MARLBOROUGH High street butcher has been shortlisted for the South of England Butcher of the Year award after impressing judges for their quality meats and service.

If Andrews Quality Meats is named best in the West it could go on to become the overall national winner.

Among their staff include Jake Laidlaw, who joined as an apprentice in 2012 and won the regional heat of the World Skills Butchery competition earlier in the year.

Director Andy Ayris also represented Great Britain in an international challenge in New Zealand in 2015.

Mr Ayris said: “We source most of our meat from farms in Wiltshire, with one supplier being Martin Gibson’s award-winning herd of Hereford cattle at Stitchcombe. It’s less than four miles from the shop, so you can’t get much more local than that!”

Andy runs the business with co-director Andy Sears, who added: “To be considered amongst the top butchers in the country is a tremendous accolade. It’s testament to our core values and the loyalty, skills and hard work of our whole team.”

The shop was opened in 2012 and has grown from strength to strength every year.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at County Hall, London on November 6.