THE Wiltshire Community Foundation has teamed up with an award-winning Devizes butcher to come up with a tasty way to raise funds for its Surviving Winter Campaign.

Experts at the family butcher Walter Rose & Son are using more than 40 years of expertise into producing a Winter Warmer sausage to support the appeal, which helps those in fuel poverty by giving them a £300 donation towards their heating bills.

The sausage uses pork reared at Cameron Naughton’s farm at Bishops Cannings, near Devizes and is flavoured with a combination of chipotle, jalapeño and Indian chilli peppers and herbs.

The sausages are now on sale at the family’s shop in Sidmouth Street and are also available online at walterroseandson.co.uk. The family firm will donate 30 per cent of profits to the appeal.

Butcher Jack Cook said: “We are a family firm and we know the winter months can be a struggle for older folk. We are really pleased to be able to support the Wiltshire Community Foundation’s campaign."

Last year the Surviving Winter appeal £300 grants to 257 individuals across Swindon and Wiltshire.

Statistics suggest 300 older or vulnerable people in Wiltshire will die from illnesses related to the cold this year. It says older people’s bodies are less efficient at keeping in heat, which means they have to turn their heating up more often to stay warm. But many cannot afford to do so.

Wiltshire Community Foundation chief executive Rosemary Macdonald said: “We are so grateful for the support of a wonderful Devizes business such as Walter Rose & Son. Their support is a great example of a firm showing concern for its community."

To donate go to wiltshirecf.org.uk and click the Surviving Wiltshire link, send a cheque to Wiltshire Community Foundation, Sandcliffe House, 21 Northgate Street, Devizes SN101JT or call 01380 729284.