A manager of award-winning butchers is hoping to prove he is a cut above the rest after reaching the final for a national award.

Ira Collier, of Kirkby Lonsdale's Dales Traditional Butchers Ltd, was picked out as a finalist for the Meat Management Awards.

Mr Collier is up for the Young Manager of the Year title and is pitted against three others from across the country.

Mark Duckworth, the owner of Dales Traditional Butchers Ltd, said: "I cannot praise him enough for his outstanding contribution that he has brought to this business.

"He is always learning and trying to better himself."

The Meat Management Industry Awards recognises the best manufacturers and producers, suppliers, and retailers in the UK meat sector every year.

The awards are voted for by the readers of Meat Management magazine and meatmanagement.com, along with other product categories judged by experts.

Mr Duckworth added: "Ira came to us as a young apprentice at the age of 16 and has always wanted to progress with every aspect of working in the butchers' shop.

"I gave him a more involving role in the business as manager about 18 months ago when other staff members were disinterested in progressing in their job."

This is not the first time that Mr Collier has been close to glory having finished fourth in the Young Butchers category at the World Butchers Final in Sacramento last year.

Dales Traditional Butchers Ltd are also no strangers to awards season with three titles to their name in the past three years.

They were named the best Small Pie Producer at the British Pie Awards in 2020, whilst 2021 saw them credited as the best butchers shop of the year.

Most recently, the establishment became the winner of Champion of Champions Sausage Competition in 2023, officially giving them the country's best sausage.

Mr Collier is due to find out whether he is successful on September 12, with the ceremony hosted by comedian and novelist Mark Watson in Birmingham.