A FAMILY butcher from Bacup has forked out more than £8,500 on five prize-winning cattle in preparation for Christmas feasts.

D and A Gregory and Sons Butchers, of St James’ Street, snapped up the reserve supreme champion, and four other top-notch heifers and bulls, at Skipton Auction Mart’s annual Christmas show.

The long-established firm spent £1,764 on a first prize-winning, home-bred, British Blue-cross lightweight heifer, weighing in at 490kg, sired by a Bordley farmer’s stock bull, fondly known as Tank.

Derek Gregory, owner of the butchers, said: “We are always seeking to source the best locally-produced meat that money can buy.”