A husband and wife team from Melksham have proved they can bring home the bacon, after their butcher’s business had a major boost.

Downland Produce has been breeding pigs and producing award-winning ham, bacon and sausages for over 25 years under the leadership of David and Debbie Wilkinson, who recently received a £15,105 grant to help them expand.

The Rural Economy Grant, from the European Agricul-tural Fund for Rural Development, will go towards a £38,000 extension to their butchery, allowing them to invest in a new chiller and cook room.

The couple’s pork and beef is reared free-range at Lackham Farm in partnership with Wiltshire College, and will now be supplied to pubs and restaurants throughout Wiltshire and beyond.

Mr Wilkinson said: “The new facilities will give us the extra capacity we need to expand into new markets.

“Chefs are always looking for high-quality, free range produce and with our short local supply chain they can be confident it’s farm fresh and they know exactly where it’s produced.”

Over £700,000 of grants have so far been given to small rural businesses through The Enterprise Network initiative, led by Wiltshire Council.

For more about Downland Produce, log on to www. downlandproduce. co.uk