DEMAND for beef on the bone created a mini stampede across East Lancashire as many people abandoned the pre-Christmas dash for turkey in favour of steak, rib-eye and oxtail.

Meat-lovers tucked into their favourite tasty treat yesterday after a mouth-watering two year wait.

The ban on T-bone steaks and other beef on the bone was finally officially lifted and meat-eaters everywhere just couldn't get enough of it.

Butcher Mike Tighe of Whittaker's on Blackburn's three-day market was absolutely rushed off his feet yesterday with customers buying beef on the bone.

He said: "The lifting of the ban is good news for beef-lovers everywhere. Beef tastes so much better cooked on the bone and my customers can't get enough of it. Even during the ban I was inundated with requests for T-bones and rib-eye beef and now the ban has been lifted our stall is busier than ever.

"The way my sales are going I think beef on the bone could knock turkey off the top spot this Christmas day."

Christine Marshall, owner of Miles House Farm Restaurant in Ribchester, put beef on the bone back on her menu last night.

Christine spoke out against the ban and even served T-bone steaks to her diners with the bones cut out - and called the dish "Spineless - A La Government". She said: "I'm so glad to see that the ban has been lifted and about time too. Beef on the bone is back on our menu - stuff the French." Diners at Samuel's Inn and Brasserie in Darwen will also be able to tuck into juicy T-bone steaks this weekend.

Owner Stuart McGlynn said: "As soon as I heard the ban was to be lifted I put an order in for some T-bones so they should be back on the menu this weekend. We are really pleased that the ban is finally over."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans was firmly against the ban and one of the first people to celebrate the return of beef on the bone.

He said: "I was in New York this week and one of the first things I did was to have beef on the bone to get back into the swing of things.

"The ban on it was ridiculous and unnecessary and did a lot of harm to Ribble Valley farmers.

"I shall certainly be eating beef on the bone this weekend to celebrate as I suspect many people in the Ribble Valley have for the last 12 to 18 months!"

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