A LARGS deli owner has taken matters into his own hands - after a supply crisis stopped locals getting their hands on a customer favourite.

Staff at Deli il Cardo are hand-making their own Tuscan sausage after the meat came impossible to source or import.

Owner Siggi Jungnitz, who took over the Main Street business in November, says he knew he had to act to bring the popular dish back to the table.

He said: “People love it, but we just can’t get over now at the minute for love nor money.

“We have decided to make our own version, and that will link in nicely with our new menu.

“It is a key part of our lasagne, arancini and our sandwiches, so we need an able substitute if we can’t get it in from Italy.

“We have ordered the machine to make them, and we are hoping it will be back very soon.

Siggi reveals that the deli’s imported items from Italy shooting up in price, but believes keeping them in the shop is a must to retain their authenticity.

He explained: “About 80 per cent of our goods are imported, so we are really at the mercy of shipping costs.

“There are certain pastas you can’t get, some of the oils are difficult to find and they are all going up in price.

“We sell stuff that you don’t really get in the supermarkets and we have a steady clientele of people who support us.

"I am loving Largs, I love the fact that people say hello to you and you often don’t even know who they are."