SAUSAGE producers Joe and Sally Brandt who trade at Ludlow Farmers Market have scooped a tasty award as part of British Sausage Week.

Their pork and elderflower sausage brought home the Golden Banger Trophy in the innovative category for the West Midlands region in British Sausage Week.

Celebrity ambassador for British Sausage Week, Phil Vickery, former England rugby captain and Celebrity Masterchef 2011 winner, was on hand to preside over the awards after a close cook-off event in Birmingham at the Pickled Piglet, on Gas Street.

And Mr Vickery was very impressed with the Woolhope-based Pork and Two Veg entry.

He said: “Probably my favourite sausage so far. I love elderflower anyway but in this sausage the flavour of the elderflower combined really well with the taste of the pork, which was of the highest quality. It was so juicy and I loved it.”

Having had success previously with their traditional and rosemary and garlic sausages, Mr and Mrs Brandt looked to the countryside surrounding their small holding for inspiration for this year's entry.

“We wanted to make a sausage that reflected the natural flavours around us so we chose the elderflower that grows in the hedgerow surrounding the farm," said Mrs Brandt.

"When combined with the pork from our Gloucestershire Tamworth Cross Pigs, the result was a fantastic tasting sausage."

Their pork and elderflower sausage then received further recognition when it was one of just two sausages from the 500 entrants up and down the country to appear on Channel 4’s Weekend Kitchen.

The couple sell their sausages from the Pork and Two Veg farm shop at Alumhurst in Woolhope, at local Farmers Markets including Woolhope as well as Ludlow.

Their bangers will also feature on the specials board at the Butchers Arms pub in Woolhope.