This week is British Pie Week, and since 2009, St Mary's Church in Melton has been the home of the national competition.
Judges ate their way through 25 different categories earlier this week, and yesterday sponsors presented trophies to the winners. Nearly 80% of the entries were from small producers, although Samworth Brothers received commendations for their Waitrose and Morrison's Pork Pies, as well as winning the Savoury Pie category for their Dickinson & Morris Festive Cracker, and Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe in Melton picked up three awards.
Winners stretched as far as Devon and the overall prize went to Boghall Butchers from Bathgate, West Lothian for their kebab pie. Proprietor Paul Boyle has supported the competition from the beginning and says it's an award he'll share with his staff and his local community.
"Well, I am absolutely delighted and the team that I have back in the shop, they'll be absolutely delighted with this and customers from all around our area will be delighted to be part of it. Our shop's not on a high street, it's in the middle of a housing estate, and it's a community shop more than anything else and the whole of the community will be absolutely delighted with this."
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