Record entry for pie championship

The annual competition has attracted 68 entrants

A record number of bakers and butchers are to vie for the coveted title of World Scotch Pie Champion.

The championships will be judged at Lauder College in Dunfermline on Wednesday before the winner is announced later in the month.

Five former champions will be among the field of 68, including last year's winner, Keith Stuart of Fife-based Stuarts of Buckhaven.

He believes his recipe is good enough to triumph for a second time.

Mr Stuart said: "We thought about changing the recipe, but it has stood the company in good stead for 150 years and so we've kept everything the same."

Bathgate-based Paul Boyle, champion in 2005, has also kept his recipe the same apart from adding extra stock to the mouth-watering mix.

The 50-year-old admitted: "We've added extra stock as the judges last year intimated that they liked to see some juice on the top of the pie. Our pie last year did not have that."

I've added a touch of pasta in the hope that Scotland can beat Italy and qualify for the finals Lewis Maclean Pie maker

Only one English competitor is in the field, Graeme Trotter of Seahouses in Northumberland, who will be attempting to take the title over the border for the first time.

The competition also features a bridie section and a savoury division in which entrants are able to table up to four items.

Among the entrants is Tartan Army foot-soldier Lewis Maclean of Macleans in Forres, Moray, who has entered his Victory Pie in honour of Scotland's European Championship qualifying win double over France.

Mr MacLean's savoury contains pasta, spicy Italian sausage, a white sauce, garlic and onions.

He said: "Scotland have done tremendously well and I felt I had to create something to celebrate. I've added a touch of pasta in the hope that Scotland can beat Italy and qualify for the finals."