A SWINDON sausage maker butchered the competition to scoop a prestigious county-wide prize.

Old Town-based Wilson’s Family Butchers took the top prize at the Wiltshire Butcher’s Sausage Competition, held in tandem with the Malmesbury Beer Festival last weekend.

Their sage and red onion bangers beat off sizzling competition from butchers across the county with taste, texture and cooking shrinkage being judged.

Martin Wilson, 42, owns and manages the family butchers in High Street and said the award has been the highlight of their two-year tenancy.

“It was a surprise to win but it’s such great news for us as a business. We’re looking to be a traditional old-fashioned butchers with fresh local produce and great customer service,” said Martin, of Highworth.

“We have a very high meat content in our sausages and there’s a natural casing around them. We hang and smoke our own meat and nothing is bought in a bag.”

They were awarded a shield and certificate which will take pride of place in the store.

Besides sensational sausages the butchers also stocks hand-made ready meals, pies, and hand-smoked bacon with unusual flavour combinations which the town can’t get enough of.

“We do bourbon and treacle infused and sweet chilli varieties which we think is the best bacon in Swindon. Bacon is the most popular item,” Martin said.

Free-range salami, pasties, lamb and mint burgers and scotch eggs also feature with everything on the menu free-range and sourced locally.

Martin, who even met wife Jane over the meat counter while working at an organic butcher, said he was inspired to cook after seeing his mum provide tasty and nutritious meals “It’s like something your mum would make – simple, honest, tasty food. My mum always made sure we had a decent meal and I’m giving people that come in a taste of home.”

Martin hopes his two young children Leo and Freya will get involved in the family business when they grow up.

“They’re too young to get behind the counter but I hope one of them takes on the business when they grow up. They’ve already made faggots and burgers,” he said.

After the success of last year’s sausage and ale trail in Old Town, Martin said Swindon sausage fans are in for a treat as he dreams up more delicious flavour combinations, “I design everything that’s sold here and it’s great to see that people enjoy what we are putting out. Free-range is full of flavour and we’re reasonable with our prices so there’s something for everyone here."

The shop is now gearing up to design new Italian-themed dishes for the Taste of The World event, held by the Old Town Business Association. For more information visit www.wilsonsfamilybutcher.co.uk.