AN ILMINSTER butchers is celebrating after they claimed triple gold at a national awards.

Bonners the Butchers of Silver Street, Ilminster, took the prize with their scotch eggs, steak and Dorset blue vinny pie, and steak and Otter Ale pie.

The awards were given out at the annual Butchers Q Guild Smithfield Awards where Bonners were competing with 110 Guild members nationwide.

Clinton Bonner, owner of Bonners the Butchers, said: "It was a terrific culmination to a very successful season of competitions having triumphed in the Smithfield awards we were finalists in the Somerset Life awards in November.

"We also received a gold award for our pork & honey Glazed Parsnip sausage at the recent South West Sausage Show where there was stiff competition from over 300 sausage entries.

"I would like to thank all my terrific staff both in the deli and butchers who work so hard and these awards would not be possible without their commitment to Bonners.”

The is the 29th year the Q Guild Awards have been held, with 472 entries across nine categories.

Trophies and certificates were presented by Monica Galetti, female chef and presenter and judge on BBC2’s MasterChef: The Professionals, at a ceremony at Ironmongers Hall, London.

She said: “What I’ve witnessed here is the passion and the drive for what you do.

“These awards attract the younger generation into the industry and that’s what we need."

Q Guild national chairman Mark Turnbull said: “The Smithfield Awards remain one of the most demanding and stringent product evaluation tests in the land and the esteem in which they are held is clearly demonstrated by the fact that this year has seen record entries from a record number of businesses.

“All products need to be at the very top of their game to stand a chance of success and nothing says ‘we’re the best’ like winning a Smithfield Award.

"They remain among the meat industry’s most esteemed accolades, not only motivating recipients to introduce even more successful products, but also providing ideas and inspiration to fellow Q Guild members across the nation.”