From beautiful bangers to delightful dogs, many people love a sausage - but which is the best?
Beccles Food Market once again attempted to answer this eternal question this weekend, with its annual Battle of the Bangers competition.
Farmers from across the region came together at the twice-monthly event to put their products to the test, as it marked National Sausage Week.
Six different sausages were entered into the competition, and as is the case in most competitions that happen to fall on a Saturday, it was the public that were able to decide who took home the spoils.
Each sumptuous submission was made to recipes unique to each entrant, and while some were made using the traditional pork, there were also sausages of beef, chicken and lamb.
Hundred River Farm entered its beef and horseradish offering, Yew Tree brought back its previous winner - chicken and sage - and Barnard’s offered up a spicy lamb recipe.
There were also varying pork recipes from Allards, Friends Farm and Samphire.
Each locally-produced sausage was then given out for visitors to the market to sample and vote for their favourite.
Margaret Hall, who organises the markets, said: “The standard of sausage has once again been very good and lots of people have been telling us just how difficult it was to choose between them.
“I think with sausages, people always straight away think of pork, so it’s nice that we can offer so many different flavours and people can come away knowing they’ve tried something different.”
The market, now in its 17th year, sees farm traders coming from all across the region to take part and sell their products.
Mrs Hall added: “I think the reason people keep coming back is they know what they are getting is fresh and hasn’t been all over the country before they get them.”
In the end, it was a newcomer to the competition that claimed the wooden sausage trophy - Alburgh-based Friends Farm, who were entering for the first time.
Keith Player, of Friends Farm, said: “It feels wonderful to win. We’ve competed in other competitions and the best we’ve managed is runner-up, so we are delighted.”
Hundred River Farm came second with its beef and horseradish recipe, with third going to Yew Tree’s chicken and sage.
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