TALENTED butchers savoured the sweet taste of success at the Great Hampshire Sausage and Pie Competition 2013.

The heat was on at the Holiday Inn, Winchester, yesterday as producers prepared their finest sausages, pies, bacon, meatballs, faggots, black puddings and ready meals.

Daily Echo reporter Maxwell Kusi- Obodum grabbed a slice of the action helping a panel of judges weighing up 170 mouth-watering entries for 12 hotly contested categories when he helped mark 16 varieties of sausages for their appearance, consistency, texture, taste and smell.

The annual event was organised by Hampshire Fare and sponsored by Lucas Ingredients, meat industry distributors Dalziel and the British Pig Executive and featured a new Hampshire Charcuterie category.

Martin Martindale from Andoverbased Greenfield Pork Products, was crowned the Supreme Sausage Champion for 2013.

Hampshire Fare chairman Michael Wright said: “I am delighted by the number of entries and range of variety.

“It demonstrates the skills of local food producers and how popular their produce is.”