A COUNTY Durham butcher's bangers have been voted world beaters in an international exhibition.

Harry Coates, of Coxhoe, near Durham City, has already won several awards in regional and national competitions for products including cooked meals.

But now his family firm, which also has a shop at Trimdon, has won international success by tickling the taste buds of the judges of Fresh Food 2000, the biggest fresh food exhibition, held in Utrecht, Holland.

He won a gold award for his traditional pork sausage, a silver for his Durham pork and beer bangers and a gold for his chicken in white wine and garlic ready meal.

The exhibition featured 2,500 entries from 25 countries.

Mr Coates said: "Our traditional pork sausage, which was judged to be the best in the North in June, has gone international and won.

"The score came back a perfect - 50 out of 50. You cannot say more than that.

"I couldn't translate the marking sheets because they were in Dutch, but obviously they liked it.

"We have a big flag from the competition displayed in the window and we are awaiting for the trophy to arrive.

"The awards show that British food can compete with the best in the world. Our sausage can compete with the likes of the Germans and the Belgians and beat them.

"There was some controversy in the EU about Britain being allowed to call them sausages.

"But our products have proved we are still making good sausages. It is very gratifying.''