Wemyss Bay butcher Mearns T. McCaskie’s meat pies have been judged among the best in Scotland.

The family butcher’s Scotch pies, handheld steak pies and steak and black pudding pies have each scooped a coveted Gold Award in the Scottish Craft Butchers Savoury Pastry Products Awards 2017.

A delighted co-owner, Nigel Ovens, said he was “thrilled” to kick off the new year by scooping the big national prizes.

A third generation butcher, Nigel runs the business with his wife Helen and mother Elizabeth who has worked in the shop for over 50 years.

The Wemyss Bay butchers also lifted a silver standard accolade for their steak and haggis pies and chicken lasagne pies.

“Pies are a big part of our business,” said Nigel, “so it’s tremendous to be recognised and rewarded for their quality and high standard.

“We produce around 2,000 pies every week and they’re great favourites with our customers. It’s wonderful to have their quality endorsed by the industry and it’s a testament to the skill and hard work of the whole team here.”

Mearns T. McCaskie employs 15 people in the butchery business and a further 10 in the adjacent café including four chefs.

The Wemyss Bay premises was one of around 60 butchers from all over Scotland who collectively submitted nearly 300 different handcrafted pies, sausage rolls and bridies which were judged across six categories in one of the industry’s most keenly contested awards.

Douglas Scott, Chief Executive of Scottish Craft Butchers, said: “Customers are demanding top quality and an ever-increasing range of outstanding products and Scottish butchers like Nigel and his team are leading the way with outstanding products made to their own recipes on their own premises.

“Their pies were judged to be among the very best you can buy in your local Scottish butchers."