A BUTCHER from Rickmansworth has been crowned the London regional winner of a competition searching for Britain's Magical Bangers.

Steve Blake, who runs Chris Blake Butchers in High Street, impressed judges including magician Paul Daniels and wife Debbie McGee to win a cook-off at S&M (Sausage and Mash) café in Smithfield Market, east London, last Monday (Nov 2).

Mr Blake, 51, also received praise from discerning meat trade critics with his Old Victorian Sausage, which saw him lift the best banger award and win a place in the national finals, held to celebrate British Sausage Week 2009. He also received £150 to donate to his preferred charity, Macmillan nurses.

The butchers is part of a small chain established for more than 20 years, with other shops in Uxbridge and Greenford.

Mr Blake said: "I was really surprised but absolutely delighted to have won, I never imagined I would get this far.

"This is the first time I have entered, although we took part in a different competition last year and came third nationally with a Cumberland sausage.

"The Old Victorian Sausage is made with pork and plenty of herbs and spices, including nutmeg and white pepper, plus a few secret ingredients!

"It's quite a simple recipe – we don't think sausages should be made from bizarre things like apricots or chocolate – but it has a very unique taste and that's what counts.

"Choosing good quality meat is the secret with all our sausages and I hope this will help us to win the national final."

Paul Daniels added: "The standard of entries has been so high this year that it was truly difficult to pick just one winner.

"Having said that, the Old Victorian Sausage was absolutely delicious and truly is the Magical Banger for London."

British Sausage Week celebrates the taste, quality and diversity of the sausage, of which there are some 400 individually named varieties in Britain alone.

Butchers from across the country will be opening their doors to the public as part of the event, and Chris Blake will be taking part in Rickmansworth Victorian Evening on Friday, November 27, to raise money for Help The Heroes.

For more information and recipes, visit www.britishsausageweek.com .