AN AWARD-winning Burnley butcher has been nominated for a local hero award.

Stephen Berkins, 44, was nominated by satellite channel UKTV as a local hero, an award which honours Britain's independent shops, farm stalls, artisan producers, cafes, pubs, and small businesses.

The 44-year-old butcher was the North West Specialist Sausage champion last year.

He won the North West Pie Champion three years running from 2003 to 2005 and the award for Lancashire's finest dried cured bacon this year.

UKTV nominated Mr Berkin (left), a third generation butcher who owns Berkins Butchers, Rosegrove Lane, after people only had one day to vote for him in the same awards last year.

Spanning over 11 episodes Local Hero 2007 is a nationwide search to find Britain's heroes of food - small-scale producers, sellers or restaurateurs who never compromise on quality.

Mr Berkins said: "People should vote for me, just for the quality of the produce I make which are home made and far healthier than some of the alternatives available.

"People want food traceabilty and I can give them that from the slaughter house back to the farm."

People have until the end of June to register their votes by logging on to the channel's website on www.uktv.co.uk Celebrity chef Gary Rhodes will lead the hunt for regional and national winners based on votes from the public and the judging panel.