AT long last Devizes has “a pie to be proud of” – thanks to Chirton baker Sue Lippiatt who has brought the town’s previously-grisly signature dish up to date.

Sue won first prize in the competition to create a new Devizes Pie and replace the 19th century recipe which has no appeal to modern diners.

The original Devizes Pie, which has been associated with the town for more than 200 years, features a calf’s head and offal including brains, testicles or ovaries.

The 'bake-over' competition to make the pie more fitting for the tastes of today kicked off the Devizes Food & Drink Festival on Saturday and it drew all manner of creative entries from the area’s keen cooks.

“We were thrilled to receive such an amazing variety of pies, our community has some excellent bakers,” said festival spokeswoman Jenny Groom.

“We were delighted by Sue’s winning entry, a new recipe that is much more suited to today's palates – now Devizes has a pie to be proud of.”

Sue’s Devizes Picnic Pie was created with her sister Vicki Jones from South Wales. It celebrates Wiltshire pork and features black pudding, bacon, two types of sausage meat, eggs, potatoes and red peppers.

Sue won a £100 voucher from the event’s sponsor Walter Rose & Sons – and the award-winning Devizes butcher may now sell the pie at its Sidmouth Street shop.

The pies were judged at the Corn Exchange by Chris Gay, mayor of Devizes, Sunday Times food editor Lisa Markwell and Steve Cook from Walter Rose & Sons.

Cllr Gay said: “Back in the 80s I once tasted the original Devizes Pie and it really was not very nice, literally anything was chucked in it. It was a great privilege to taste the entries for the new Devizes Pie, they were all delicious.”

Lisa Markwell added: “It was fantastic to see such a brilliant range of pies, which were all very tasty and with some stunning decorations of the pastry.

“But we all agreed that the winner really celebrates Devizes and recognises its best product. It was brilliantly layered with all sorts of flavours running through it and there’s a great meal in every slice.”

The vegetarian category was won by Geoff Baker, of Potterne, with his Devizes Nunchin Pie. 'Nunchin' is the old Wiltshire word for luncheon.

The Devizes Food & Drink Festival, which is lead-sponsored by the Wadworth brewery and The Heritage Fine Food Company, in association with Devizes Town Council, continues until Sunday when it closes at the Corn Exchange with a feast of World Food prepared by local residents.

The dishes, which can be sampled for 50p, include cuisine from Poland, Russia, Ireland, Fiji, Kazakhstan, Finland and Slovakia. Details of the events are at www.devizesfoodanddrinkfestival.info