AN ALLOA butchers has secured a spot on the shortlist for the 20th World Championship Scotch Pie Awards.

The High Street’s James Aitken Butchers entered the competition against 80 others with close to 500 products across 11 categories assessed by more than 50 professional judges.

They carefully looked at appearance, quality, consistency and taste on a busy judging day in Dunfermline earlier this month.

Alongside Scotch pies, entries also included football savouries; macaroni, steak and apple pies; birdies, sausage rolls and more.

The winners in each category, who will be crowned world champions, are set to be announced at a prestigious lunch in Cumbernauld mid-January.

Alasdair Smith, chief executive of organisers Scottish Bakers, 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 butchers and bakers throughout the land vie for pie supremacy and the boost to their business that always comes with such a sought after title.”