A THIRD generation family sausage recipe has won Thomas of Helmsley an award during British Sausage Week.

Ben Nicholson, head butcher at Thomas’s deli and butcher in Market Street, Helmsley, said he was “very pleased” to pick up third place for his thick pork sausages in the 24th Great Yorkshire Pork Pie, Sausage & Products Competition.

The competition, organised by the Confederation of Yorkshire Butchers Councils, saw Thomas’s beat off competition from hundreds of other entrants across the county.

He said: “Sausage making is an art and we’re continually re-evaluating our age-old recipe, tinkering with the meat content and spicing to make it the best banger.”