A CULLINGWORTH butcher is riding high after a burger specially devised for the Tour de Yorkshire was a sizzling success at a regional contest.

The Bronte burger, created by Ellison's, was a winner in the north-east heat of the Butchers Q Guild competition.

Now it and two other Ellison's products, its traditional beefburger and pork sausage, will go through to the national final.

"We wanted to do something different with a local flavour especially for the cycle race," said John Ellison, who runs the Halifax Road shop with his father Paul and brother Brendan.

"The burger, which is made with beef brisket and dried mushrooms, was ideally suited for barbecues over the race weekend and throughout the summer season.

"To win through to the national final with a single product is a major achievement in itself, but to have three of our products there is a tremendous feat. We are over the moon."

The shop's traditional pork sausage is already a multiple award winner and features meat from pigs reared by David Mitchell, at Honeypot Farm in Wilsden.

Ellison's also enjoyed success with its rib-eye steak, and with its fire sticks in the speciality barbecue product section.