PERFECT pork faggots has made an Anna Valley-based producer a county-wide champion.

Having been postponed earlier in the month due to the snow, local butchers and producers finally gathered at Rownhams House and Gardens on Thursday last week for the results of the Great Hampshire Sausage and Pie Competition organised by Hampshire Fare.

The categories included the Meatballs and Faggots Champion 2018 which was won by Highbury Road-based Greenfield Pork Products, for its pork faggots, which was presented by Lucas Ingredients.

This year’s competition attracted 261 entries from 46 butchers across 12 categories which were all judged by a panel of national judges.

Judging took place in February at Eastleigh College with the assistance of staff and students from the college’s hospitality and catering department.

Tracy Nash, commercial manager of Hampshire Fare, said: “The judges were extremely positive about the quality of this year’s entries. Many of the judges have been involved in this annual competition for several years and were able to notice a real improvement in the standard of the products entered. Our butchers and producers did Hampshire proud.”

The awards were hosted by BBC South business correspondent, Alastair Fee.

Greenfield Pork Products also received six gold awards and one silver for its various products.

Meanwhile, an array of other producers in the Test Vally area also picked up awards for their wares.

Bere Mill Butchery, in Whitchurch, picked up a silver prize; Owtons Butchers, with an Andover base, got seven golds, two silvers and one bronze; Stag And Bull Biltong in Chilbolton landed two silvers; and The Weyhill Farm Shop four golds and three silvers.