SAUSAGE king Harry Coates is helping a celebration of the product go with a bang.

Customers at the award-winning butcher's three shops in County Durham are being left in no doubt that it is National Sausage Week.

Sampling sessions took place on Saturday and will also be held next Saturday at his premises in Framwellgate Moor, Coxhoe and Trimdon Village.

During the week, Mr Coates is offering customers an addition to his regular selection of 12 varieties of sausage. He has chosen a "lamb firecracker", in honour of Guy Fawkes' night. "It's not for the faint-hearted," he said. "It includes fresh chillies, fresh garlic and a range of other herbs and spices, and while it won't quite blow your head off, it is pretty tangy."

Several of the most popular varieties will feature in Mr Coates' presentation for the National Sausage Week competition at York Racecourse tomorrow.