BUTCHER Chris Manson has just proved he is a cut above the rest, by becoming the first butcher in Middlesbrough borough to be presented with a licence to trade.

Under legislation introduced in the wake of the E. Coli outbreak which killed 21 people in Scotland, in 1996, butchers selling raw meat, cooked meats and pies have to demonstrate high standards of hygiene and food safety management to obtain a licence.

The licences must be renewed every year. Hard work undertaken by Middlesbrough's 43 butchers to meet the requirements is recognised by the borough council.

Councillor Ken Hall, the council's commissioner for the environment, said: "Butchers have put in an awful lot of hard work over the last six months to meet the new standards.''

Mr Manson, whose shop is in Crescent Road, said: "It's a lot more bureaucracy, but I think it is a step in the right direction. It gives people confidence. We want people to go to the butcher's shops and not the supermarkets, so this might be good for us."