A butcher is "beefing up" for a "champion" Christmas and New Year after purchasing the winner of a prime cattle show.

D&A Gregory and Sons Butchers in Bacup is stocking cuts of beef from the "supreme champion" of the Skipton Auction Mart’s 15th annual Christmas cattle show and sale day, which was held last month.

Butcher Phil Gregory co-judged the show, before snapping up the title winner - a quality Limousin-cross steer from Yorkshire Dales beef farming family the Stephensons.

And once ready, he will be selling the beef in his St James Square shop, just in time for Christmas Day.

Mr Gregory said: “We mature our beef for a minimum of 21 days to maximise both taste and texture, constantly aiming to provide the best quality meat that money can buy.

“While it’s in ready demand all year long, it proves particularly popular at this special time of year.

“In fact, while we have not experienced any major problems in obtaining turkeys this year, we are finding that more and more of our customers are purchasing beef and lamb roasts as a viable alternative to the traditional roast turkey dinner.”

Gregory’s also supplies prime lambs from its own farm in nearby Weir, which are being sold alongside other traditional seasonal products for Christmas and the New Year.

D&A Gregory and Sons Butchers was established more than half a century ago by Mr Gregory’s parents, Derek and Ann Gregory, who both maintained a hands-on interest until last year when taking a well-earned retirement.

Phil Gregory has himself been involved in the business since leaving school, running the shop with his own wife, Tracy, while brother Garry, as well as working in the shop, also manages the family farm in Weir.