AWARD-winning butcher Harry Coates is celebrating more competition success with his sausages and ready meals.

Mr Coates, who has shops at Framwellgate Moor, Durham, Coxhoe, and Trimdon, won five gold and two silver in the West Midlands Awards for Excellence in British Meat Products, held at Coventry.

The event, run by the Meat and Livestock Commission, attracted 207 entries, mainly from the West Midlands.

Mr Coates scooped gold for three types of banger - herbed lamb, gluten-free Lincolnshire and Cumberland.

His steak and ale pie and beef steak and pepper sauce ready meal also received the highest honours from the judges and silver awards went to his traditional pork sausage and pork and leek sausage.

Mr Coates, who has 32 staff and produces about 12,000 sausages a week, has won a stack of awards over the years.

He is delighted with his latest success and said: "We are flying the flag for Durham. There is a lot of competition.

"The main thing we get is the reassurance we can give customers, that they are getting some of the best products in the country.''

Meanwhile, he is concerned about rumours circulating in Framwellgate Moor that his shop is closing.

Traders there are fighting plans to build flats and houses on the area's car park, which they say could hit their business.

"We are here to stay for a long time,'' said Mr Coates.

"There's a rumour that we are going to move but there's no substance in it."