IT WAS a sizzling contest but in the end there could be only one top banger.

The Great Hampshire Sausage, Pie and Ready Meal competition saw 30 different butchers from across the county go into battle.

The annual event featured more than 150 sausages and 70 more products competing for the pie and ready meal trophies.

The event, at Sparsholt Agricultural College near Winchester, is run by the Hampshire Fare organisation and aims to raise the profile of locally-produced food.

New this year was the St George's Sausage competition, designed to celebrate all things English.

Judges voted Les Smith Butchers of Bishopstoke's pork with cracked black pepper banger as the supreme sausage champion

Best ready meal went to a lamb tagine made by Anna's Kitchen, Alton.

Hot pie winner was Newlands Farm Shop, Hook, with its steak and onion entry, while the cold pie champion was Upton's of Bassett's New Forest game pie.

The best St George's sausage was Buckwell's of Southsea's dragon's breath.