United Kingdom-High Praise for Lincoln Butcher.

A FAMILY butcher in Claypole, near Grantham, has been named Lincolnshire’s best producer by a scheme which recognises quality local produce and producers.

Kings Butchers, in Doddington Lane, won the Tastes of Lincolnshire Award in a ceremony held at Branston Hall, near Lincoln, last month.

The butcher was inspected by a series of mystery shoppers and judged on its service, quality of produce and ability to answer questions about where its products had come from.

Martin Carnell, who runs the business with his father Jim and employee Roger Curt, said they are delighted to have won the award.

He said: "It was a nice surprise as we didn’t put ourselves forward. We think one of our customers must have nominated us.

"We have won individual awards for our sausages, for example, but we have never won anything on this scale before.

"I hope it will enhance what we do here and make people aware of the quality we offer."

Kings Butchers is a member of the Tastes of Lincolnshire scheme and promotes fellow members’ products such as Pipers crisps and Belvoir Fruit Farms’ cordials.

They are also members of the Lincolnshire Quality Beef and Lamb scheme which ensures complete traceability for all their meats.