A BREED of cattle said to produce the world's finest-tasting beef is to be given a boost in Tetbury next month.

The newly-formed Wagyu Breeders Association (WBA) has appointed Tetbury farmer and equestrian commentator MikeTucker as its first ever chairman.

The association will have its official launch in Tetbury on November 11 and 12.

Mr Tucker, who farms at Long Newnton and is a governor of Cirencester's Royal Agricultural University, has said he is delighted to be involved in the new venture, which he believes will contribute to a more profitable future for British farmers.

Wagyu cattle originate from Japan and were first introduced to the UK in the 1990s. There are herds in Suffolk, Yorkshire, Wales and Scotland and the beef is valued by butchers and restaurateurs as the world's finest tasting.