FORMER Cowdenbeath butcher Tom Courts was delighted with his return from the the World Championship Scotch Pie Awards 2018.

Tom Courts Quality Foods has enjoyed success at the 19th World Championship Scotch Pie Awards when they were presented with the following awards by TV Personality and entrepreneur, Carol Smillie.

The man who runs his butchers business in Burntisland these days collected bronze in the Steak Bridie and Sausage Roll categories and gold in the Steak and Haggis Pie section and was 1st runner-up in the Scotch Pie section.

Tom, who has a lot of people from the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area shop at his business since he opened his new shop, said: “We are delighted with our win and can go away with our heads held very high indeed. To have been judged as one of the best in land against so many of our peers is a huge achievement.”

Awards presenter Carol Smillie said: “I am delighted to have been asked to come along and present the World Championship Scotch Pie Awards for a third time.

"Each and every butcher and baker here knows they make something special so a confirmation of this kind is the real icing on the cake.”

Following a busy judging day, with over 80 butchers and bakers entering over 400 pies, sausage rolls, bridies, savouries and apple pies into the competition and with some 250 hopefuls attending the awards luncheon in Cumbernauld, all the butchers and bakers shortlisted can truly be proud to have produced some of the best products in the land.

“The competition, which has run for 19 years, aims to highlight that bakers and butchers create high quality pastry products. Recognising the 'great and the good' in this way rewards excellence and raises the bar in the industry”, said head judge Ian Nelson, who oversaw the judging process to ensure only the best pies were recognised and that only the best of the best is crowned world champion.

Craig McPhie, President of Scottish Bakers, said: “Once again we have brought together the best pies and baked goods in the land and we can really celebrate the achievement of our hard working butchers and bakers.

"My heartfelt congratulations go to our world champion, and indeed everyone today taking away a prize, they are all winners in my book.”