A PENDLE butcher’s shop is a cut above the rest after being named a finalist in a national competition.

Nicholson’s Butchers, in Railway Street, Nelson, has been voted one of the top three in the north of England.

It has made it through to the finals of the North of England category in the Butcher’s Shop of the Year Awards.

Over the next few months, judges will hit the road and visit each of the three finalists and see first-hand what they offer.

Owners Ryan and Faye Moffat will then find out if they will be crowned the overall best butchers in the north at a special ceremony on November 16 in London.

All the regional winners will then compete to be named Britain’s top butcher’s.

Faye said: “We are really excited about our finalist status. For a small butcher’s like Nicholson’s, this is a huge achievement.

“The North of England is a massive area filled with hundreds of fantastic butcher’s shops. To be named as one of the best is amazing.”

It is not the first time the family run shop has been in the running for top awards, having previously been recognised for its sausages and pies.

The butcher’s, which also has an online order facility, focuses on providing high-quality local produce that is ‘reasonably priced, expertly prepared and served with care’.

The Butcher’s Shop of the Year Awards are renowned as the premier event for the UK butchery sector, recognising excellence in craft butchery.

The competition covers butcher’s around the country, with the winner in each region going head to head to see which is the best shop in the UK.

Other categories include the UK’s best Farm Shop, Butcher’s Plus, Innovation of the Year and Halal Butcher’s Shop of the Year.