A talented butchery apprentice from Suffolk has fought off strong competition to scoop top prize at a national meat awards.

Ana Marques of Gressingham Foods - a family-owned duck meat business based at Debach, near Woodbridge - became the first winner from the poultry sector when she was crowned Best Meat Processing Apprentice at the event.

She received the accolade at the Institute of Meat (IoM) and Worshipful Company of Butchers annual prize-giving ceremony held at Butchers Hall - an ancient livery company - in London.

Ana - who is now training manager at Gressingham - was presented with her certificate by Institute of Meat chief executive Keith Fisher and Chris Wood, Master of The Worshipful Company of Butchers.

She also received £250 and a year's honorary membership of The Institute of Meat.

The annual IoM and WCB Annual Awards - which have been running for more than 30 years - recognise individuals, employers and training providers who excel in the meat industry.

Master butcher Keith Fisher said: "The meat industry today is a hotbed of innovation. It’s talented apprentices like Ana and committed employers like Gressingham Food that help make it such a vibrant and rewarding sector to work in.”

He added that he was thrilled that members of the public wanted to know where their meat comes from.

“Although there’s always more to do we hope our prize-giving helps open peoples’ eyes to what a brilliant career choice butchery is, and one that’s open to all."

Carrie Barrett, learning and development manager at Gressingham Food, said: “‘We are very proud of Ana.

"Not only is she the first person to gain this achievement across the poultry industry as a whole, but to beat red meat processors is a huge accomplishment.

“Ana worked really hard and I am so pleased that she has been recognised for this nationally.

"We hope this may encourage more people to come into our industry and gain this highly regarded apprenticeship, but for now Ana is the first and paves the way for more people within the poultry sector to gain this qualification.”