Youngest winner for haggis honour

Alan Elliot received the title of Scottish haggis champion

A Northern Irish butcher has been crowned the youngest ever Scottish haggis champion.

Alan Elliot, 22, who now runs a shop in Dalbeattie, had never made the famous Scots delicacy until he took over his business in the town in 2004.

It is the first time the title has ever gone to Dumfries and Galloway, although the young butcher originally hails from Cookstown in County Tyrone.

Mr Elliot received his crown at the Scottish Meat Trades awards.

He started in the trade at the age of 15 at his local butchers in Northern Ireland, Joe Hutton and Son.

So far every competition I have entered in I have come up trumps - I am very proud Alan Elliot

Mr Elliot then took over Dalbeattie Quality Butchers on his 19th birthday in January 2004.

At the time he inherited a haggis recipe which judges reckoned he had "almost totally reinvented".

"Over the past few years I have been changing my recipe and about six months ago I came up with a recipe that I was happy with," he told BBC Scotland news website.

He said he was delighted to have taken a prize for the most Scottish of products.

Quality produce

"I don't have words to describe it," he said.

"It is once every two years and it is the first time I have entered it and I'm only 22 years old.

"So far every competition I have entered in I have come up trumps - I am very proud."

Mr Elliot added that he could not have achieved his success without the support of his staff and the quality meat in south west Scotland.

"All my produce come from within a 40-mile radius of the shop," he said.