A BUTCHERS in Cirencester is holding a Christmas sausage competition to raise money for a cancer charity.

Jesse Smith Family Butchers will be welcoming recipe submissions from November 16 to December 5, with the winning recipe being sold over Christmas in the Blackjack Street shop to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Perry Meredith, 53, manager of Jesse Smith, whose wife Angela was diagnosed with breast cancer last November, wanted to do something “a bit different” to raise funds for the charity.

He said: “Macmillan asked me if they could set up a stall outside the shop for the late night opening on November 28, for when the Christmas lights switch on.

“It then inspired me to come up with something a bit different to help raise funds for a cause that is obviously very close to me.

“The winner will get to come in and make their recipe, which will be named after them and then sold in the shop over Christmas.”

Several traders along Blackjack Street will be staying open late for the Christmas lights switch on, with Perry and his team setting up their big black pans outside all day frying various foods.

“We’ll be making different things throughout the day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including roast pork,” he said.

“The road will be all closed off and there’ll be a snow machine and gazebo, so it should be, as always, a great night.”

Perry, who once taught actress Liz Hurley how to make sausages when she lived in the area, last year also appeared on the BBC’s The One Show along with five other butchers from across the UK.

“We demonstrated how to make perfect sausages,” Perry said, who was then nicknamed ‘Banger Man’ by comedian Harry Hill, also appearing on the show.

“That was last year and the nickname’s stuck ever since.”

Angela, 52, has now finished her cancer treatment and will be selecting the winner of the competition in December.

For more information, call Perry on 01285 653387.