A BUTCHERS famed for its sausages endorsed by stars of the hit ITV period drama Downton Abbey has landed leading honours at an awards ceremony.

Bampton’s Patrick Strainge Butchers won five golds for its products at the Q Guild Smithfield Awards 2015.

Its Scotch faggots and home cured back bacon received perfect 100 out of 100 scores from the judging panel, while its ‘blood, sweat, tears sausage’, Scotch eggs and home cured smoked back bacon were also given the gold accolade.

The blood, sweat and tears sausage, with its name represented by the ingredients of black pudding (blood), salt (sweat) and onion (tears), was inspired by the Rugby World Cup.

Manager of the family-run butchers, Oliver Weaver, said some of the products were entered into the competition after customers reacted well to it.

The 21-year-old added: “My staff play a vital part in what we do, so these awards are for the whole team.

“A lot of hard work goes into the preparation of the products and it’s great that we managed to win five gold and a silver.

“The customers suggested the Scotch faggots, which is a traditional faggot in the form of a scotch egg, but the egg is replaced with a faggot.

“You don’t really know what is going to happen and the category is quite difficult, so to win is pleasing.”

The Bampton resident, whose family took over the butchers two years ago, said the village was still popular with Downton Abbey fans.

The butchers proved a hit with some stars of the popular drama, which filmed outdoor scenes in the village.

Actor Rob James-Collier, who plays villain Thomas Barrow, was reported to be a fan of the butchers’ sausages.