HAVE a butcher's at the best beefburgers in South Wales!

Mike Edwards only opened his own store in Cwmbran just over a year ago, at the height of the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

But now he has been named supreme champion by the Meat and Livestock Commission in their South Wales Counties Meat Excellence Awards for his quality cutlets.

Mr Edwards, 33, who owns Edwards of Cwmbran butchers in New Street, Pontnew-ydd, with his 32-year-old wife Karen, also landed 11 gold awards.

A butcher for 17 years, he said: "We won the supreme champion award last year for our pies and six gold awards when we had only been open for three or four weeks, so that was a good feeling. But we have slightly improved on our performance this year, so that's even better."

The secret of his success came from using best-quality local produce, he claimed, and trying a combination of seasonings and different flavours to enhance the meats. For his best-selling burgers, he recommended using the best British beef and adding a blend of seasonings, with a bit of pepper on the edge.

"I travelled around the world for a bit and get my inspiration from all over the place," he said. "My wife and I love to cook and try out new things and if we enjoy them at home, then we try them out in the shop."

He is now eligible to show his wares at the Royal Welsh Show this summer and compete for the Welsh title against his North Wales counterparts.

PICTURE: Butcher Mike Edwards with some of his award-winning produce