AN AWARD-winning Alloa butchers has been shortlisted for yet another prestigious award as it aims to add a world title to his achievements.

After a busy judging day in Dunfermline where a panel of more than 60 professional judges, James Aitken Butchers of Alloa has secured a place on the shortlist of the 21st World Championship Scotch Pie Awards.

Each product was assessed on its appearance, quality, consistency and taste by the experts, which included guest judge and Outlander actor Scott Kyle.

Ian Nelson, head judge on behalf of Scottish Bakers, which manages the competition, said: "Over 75 professional pie makers entered over 450 of their best products into 11 categories this year and the competition has been fierce so James Aitken Butchers can be proud to have come this far.

It is not the first time the High Street-based butcher has collected an accolade. In January 2017, the butcher's scotch pies and sausage rolls scooped gold awards at the Scottish Craft Butchers Savoury Pastry Products Awards.

In 2018, he was given recognition for Balmoral pies, beef and spring onion burgers and bridies, sausage rolls and scotch pies at various award nights throughout the year.

Alisdair Smith, chief executive of Scottish Bakers, described the competition was one of a kind.

He said: "The World Championship Scotch Pie Awards is the only competition of its kind recognising excellence in the preparation of a perfect pie.

"The competition is now a regular fixture on the calendar as professional butchers and bakers across the country vie for pie perfection and the boost to their business that always comes with such a sought-after title."

This year's entries came from far and wide with lip-smacking offerings in each of the scotch pie, football pies & savouries, macaroni pie, steak pie, sausage roll, cold savoury, hot savoury, vegetarian savoury, haggis savoury, bridie and apple pie categories.

Judging for the competition took place on Wednesday, November 20 and the winner will be announced at a prestigious luncheon on January 14 at the Westerwood Hotel, Cumbernauld.

The winner of the Scotch Pie category will be declared the world champion of scotch pies.

The competition highlights the high-quality pastry products that pie makers from far and wide create from scratch using nothing but a good recipe, great ingredients and talent.

Recognising the winning products and producers in this way rewards excellence and raises quality and innovation across the industry.