A NORTH-East butchers has proved itself a cut above the rest after its pork pies and sausages were classed as golden.

Castle Bank Butchers in Crook, County Durham secured seven gold awards, six silver and two bronze from the British Pork Executive (BPEX) at a judging day in Harrogate last week.

The shop’s pate and pork pie produced particularly good comments from the judges with each scoring 98 per cent.

Butcher David Higginson, whose father Jim started Castle Bank several decades ago, said: “We are delighted with the BPEX results, it just shows our customers the quality they are getting.”

Castle Bank also has shops in Stanhope and Esh Winning as well as a bakery in Crook.

The company also has butchers in Barnard Castle in County Durham and employs more than 50 people.

Mr Higginson, 29, said the key to their success is they know the origins of their meat.

He said: “We know the farms where the meat comes from and therefore know it is of an excellent quality.

“It is also important to take some real care when making a sausage or a pie, anyone can learn it but you have to really care about it to create a top quality product.”

Castle Bank, named after the street where the first shop was in Tow Law, also won gold awards for various bacons, a pork and black pudding sausage and a pig cheek terrine.