RK PALFREY's butchers' shop in Newport has come runner-up in a nationwide competition to find the best stockist of Orkney beef.

Peter Molesworth, who bought the family business from Graham Palfrey last year, was congratulated at his Church Road shop by Orkney Meat Company (OMC) managing director Edgar Balfour.

OMC markets its beef and lamb to 200 independent retailers across Scotland, Wales and England. Last year Palfrey's won the competition outright.

Mr Balfour said: "As you can see, this is a fantastic shop. Look at the quality of the display and how much trade there is even during a quiet part of the day."

Mr Molesworth said that he was particularly pleased with the customer recommendations that were made when the award was being assessed by OMC.

"Our customers are very kind, they said some very flattering things about us and the quality of the meat they buy here."

Palfrey has a long-standing relationship with OMC as Graham Palfrey was so impressed with the way the Orcadians raise their stock.

The islands were untouched by BSE or Foot and Mouth and in times of increasing health worries among consumers, Orkney meat has become very popular.

Mr Balfour said: "People want to know where their meat comes from and how the stock is raised."

OMC was established in 1979 and has around 300 farmers on its books.