FOR a tasty treat, pies from a local family business are hard to beat.

Award-winning Peebles butcher and baker WTS Forsyth has been shortlisted in the 16th world Scotch pie championships.

The Eastgate business learned this week that it is one of 15 in with a chance of landing the coveted prize for the best Scotch pie.

The competition run by Scottish Bakers and the Scottish Federation of Meat Traders has beaten its own record, attracting over 100 professionals entering the highest ever number of products with some 600 individual items being professionally judged.

In addition to Scotch pies, contestants entered their best sausage rolls, bridies, speciality savouries, Scottish football pies, savouries and apple pies.

Head judge Robert Ross led a team of 50 judges comprised of professional judges and a small number of pie lovers at Carnegie Conference Centre in Dunfermline last month. He was also joined by a special judge, Bay City Roller front-man Les McKeown. Les said: “I was honoured to once again be asked to join the panel of judges for this iconic competition.

“The overall standard was excellent and I was astounded by the quality of the various products that were entered. The Scotch pie is my favourite and I now know that that I have tasted the world champion pie for a second year in a row.” The world Scotch pie championships provide butchers and bakers across Scotland with the opportunity to become recognised as producing the highest quality savoury products with awards given to those producing the best products in each category.

The winner of the Scotch pie category will be declared as the World Champion at the awards ceremony on January 14.

Mr Ross said: “Scotland is lucky to be home to some of the world’s most experienced and talented bakers and butchers.

“The world Scotch pie championships provides an opportunity for Scotland’s finest to showcase their skill.” Alan Clarke, of Scottish Bakers, said: “This year has seen a particularly high standard of entries and the judges had a challenge in front of them.

“This competition was designed to both reward excellence and raise the bar for standards in the industry – and year on year we continue to be impressed by the increased level of creativity and talent.”