THE multi award winning butchers of Bishopstoke, LJ Smith Family Butchers, are now celebrating 25 years at Riverside.

The founder Les Smith, is also celebrating 50 years since taking over his first butchers shop, and is working with his daughter Donna, and son Pip to ensure their business keeps thriving.

The firm is celebrating after winning seven gold awards at the Three Counties Sausage and Pie Challenge held in Goring on Thames, Oxfordshire.

It attracted a record 135 entries, and was open to all independent butchers and farm shops.

The Bishopstoke business claimed five gold awards for sausages, which were pork and black pudding, pork and smoked bacon, pork and watercress, traditional pork and Moroccan lamb. In the pies category, the beef pasty and traditional sausage rolls both took gold.

The firm now has more than 100 awards for sausages, pies and black pudding, alongside its fresh stock of beef, lamb, pork, game and poultry.