A NEWPORT business made another top-quality cut through the opposition at a prestigious competition.

R K Palfrey Butchers, of Church Road, took two trophies back to their shop and 13 gold awards from a ceremony organised by Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion Wales.

Their Welsh lamb and leek pie won the speciality hot eating pie category, while they also took top spot for their home-cured bacon.

They also won gold awards for traditional pork sausage, pork, herb and garlic sausage, Welsh lamb with honey sausage, Usk lamb and mutton sausage, pork and game pie, pork and apple pie, steak pie, Welsh lamb and leek pie, pork pie, beefburger, pork and apple burger, home-cured bacon, and home-cured gammon entries.

Last year Palfrey's won 15 gold awards and 11 in 2003, so owner Peter Molesworth was delighted that they were maintaining the firm's high standards.

"We also recently won the best producer in Wales in the True Taste Awards. It is very good," said Mr Molesworth, who took over the firm from the Palfrey family in 2003.

More than 300 entries were put to the judging for the 11 champion categories at this year's South Wales Counties Awards for Excellence in Meat Products.

M Williams & Sons, of Tredegar Street, Risca, won best in show award for the pork pie category, and an additional five gold awards for their traditional pies and sausages..

A D Turner & Sons of Newport Market, Newport, won seven gold awards.