A COOKED meat stall may not seem like the most obvious of choices when it comes to grabbing your lunch – but sometimes it is well worth trying something different.

Blackburn Market has a plethora of places from which to get your fill, from curry stalls to sandwich shops, and some belting black puddings.

But on occasion you can be stopped dead in your tracks at the most unexpected of places.

Take Bedford’s. It’s known as a cooked meat stall, but if you look closely they have a selection of sandwiches that catch the eye. The other day I was almost subconsciously attracted to a turkey salad sandwich that was screaming out to be bought.

Back at my desk, I unwrapped the butty and it was stuffed with several thick slices of turkey, fresh salad that even I liked, and a hint of mayo. It was served on a proper sized soft teacake, and went down a treat.

Of course sandwiches aren’t Bedford’s stock trade and choice is somewhat limited. For instance if you want a swiss cheese, ranch and jalapeno on a brioche, disappointment may be the order of the day – but the ones they do are all proper northern delights with fine meat as you would expect from a cooked meat stall.

A word of warning though: Bedford’s reputation is spreading and after about 1pm there isn’t too much left.