A PENDLE chef was due to fight it out in a battle of the butchers today to create a sausage to represent Lancashire.

Kevin Berkins, owner of the Fence Gate Inn, used his 13 years of experience as a butcher to create his pork-based black pudding and leek sausage with a hint of sage.

To comply with the rules of the contest, run by the North West Fantastic Food Partnership, the ingredients for the sausage have been produced and supplied within the county.

The winner of today's six-strong contest in Preston is being judged by the Mayor of Preston, chef Nigel Smith and a representative from Made in Lancashire.

They will have their creation crowned Lancashire's best sausage and will take part in a regional contest in British Sausage Week, in October.

Kevin's sausage is now available to try in the brasserie at the Fence Gate, which he has owned for 21 years.

He said: "I enjoy creating new things all the time because of my experience as a butcher, though this is a totally different business because the sausages we create would be very expensive to sell.

"We all bang ideas around and because of my experience I know what will work.

"This was a difficult one to create because of the fact that it had to be locally produced.

"I make the black pudding myself and I have used pork produced in Salesbury from a supplier in Stacksteads and leeks from Blackpool from a Preston supplier.

"We only use fresh ingredients and we have always tried to use local produce where possible because it's important and it's a better way of dealing.

"I would be absolutely delighted to win."