An Inverness butcher has produced a sizzling world record for the most sausages produced in one minute.
Alistair Paul, from A&I Quality Butchers on Tomatin Road, is set to be crowned the world record holder after successfully casing and linking 36 sausages – made with Specially Selected Pork – in 60sec.
Mr Paul completed the feat at the Quality Meat Scotland stand at the Royal Highland Show on Saturday. And the record was all the more impressive as just days before he had received butterfly stitches on his thumb before after slicing it at work.
Mr Paul said: “At the time I couldn’t believe it. It was quite a close run thing so I’m absolutely delighted. You have to have everything exact. Each sausage has to be 4ins long or it doesn’t count. When it was announced that I had managed 36 of them I was over the moon.
“I think concentration was the knack. Everything just went really well. We had been given a really good casing, the mixture was just right and we were allowed a practice run, so I got the machine set up perfect.”
It was north against south as Mr Paul went head to head against Nigel Ovens, from Mearns T McCaskie butchers in Wemyss Bay, to see who would take home the victorious sausage title.
Mr Paul narrowly beat Mr Ovens who succeeded in making 35 sausages, just missing out on the top accolade.
A large crowd gathered to witness the landmark moment in sausage history, which was commentated on by TV and radio presenter Bryan Burnett.
Carol McLaren, head of communications at Quality Meat Scotland, said: “One of the main aims of the world record attempt was to raise the profile of the skills and commitment of our butchers who are at the heart of communities around the country. The Guinness world record attempt made for a fantastic fun spectacle and our thanks go to both butchers for a very exciting showdown.”