A CHESTER butchers is finding success as easy as pie after it scooped a number of top national accolades.

David Joinson Quality Meats butcher shop, in Christleton Road, Boughton, has won five gold awards for its pies and other dishes at the Great British Butchers Awards, which were held recently in Harrogate.

Store manager Paul Bowley said it was a great achievement for the shop, which has only been going for 18 months.

He said: "This was the first time we have entered the awards, and it's nice to get a bit of recognition from people who are experts in the job."

The Great British Butchers Awards are, according to Mr Rowley, widely considered as the Oscars in the industry.

The shop received three perfect scores for its steak and ale pie, its country pie and its chicken and chorizo casserole, receiving gold awards for each.

It also received gold awards for its traditional pork sausage and the chicken and leek and bacon pie.

For the shop's country pie, it was additionally named runner-up for the whole of the UK.

Mr Bowley added: "It's great national recognition for us as a small team. There are just three of us here and we make everything from scratch."