MEAT pies which sell quicker than hot cakes have won a butcher a national prize.

Martin Blackwell has proved what hundreds of customers know already, that he is the upper crust of steak and kidney pie makers.

Every day, Mr Blackwell's shop sells out of 1,000 hot pies, including a delicious range of mince and onion, pork and apple, chicken, steak and kidney, and traditional pork.

It was the steak pie with rich gravy that tickled distinguished tastebuds to win Mr Blackwell and his Teesside shop a British Meat Award.

He travelled to a black-tie award ceremony at London's Dorchester Hotel to pick up his Butcher's Product of the Year Award 2000 prize trophy from television celebrity Angus Deayton and Daily Express Editor Rosie Boycott. The newspaper sponsored the awards.

Mr Blackwell was nominated by customers Margaret and Billy Mockler.

They make a 13-mile round-trip from Thornaby, to his shop on Norton Green, near Stockton, twice a week to buy pies.

Mr Blackwell's product beat competition from across the UK, after tasting sessions by chef Antony Worrall Thompson, BBC Good Food Magazine Editor Orlando Murrin and Express food writer Rose Prince.

One of Mr Blackwell's pies was sent as a goodwill present last year to renegade former MI5 agent David Shayler, in Paris, where he is in exile.