BLACK puddings made in Waterfoot stole the show at a European meat fair with gold and silver medals and two trophies.

Andrew Holt has spent all his life working in the meat and food industry and for the last four years has been running his own company, RS Ireland Black Puddings, with his wife Diane.

They sell black puddings to businesses all over Lancashire and, through the Internet, all over the world!

His puddings, with their secret combination of herbs and spices, were judged the best in Britain in a competition at the three-day national Food and Meat Exhibition at Harrogate in June.

And at a black and white pudding competition in Belgium he entered two samples which were picked as the best British entries and won a gold and silver medal and two trophies.

Andrew said: "Europeans are very keen on black and white puddings and there were 315 entries from seven countries."

It was the 16th time the competition has been held but the first time Andrew, 35, had entered.

He said: "I didn't know just how big the competition was so I only entered two examples, but next year I will be back and I will submit even more entries.

"I was delighted when I got a first and a third at Harrogate and was even more pleased to be picked as the best British entry and have the trophy presented by a Belgium Minister."

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