INVENTIVE ways of serving chicken proved to be a butcher's recipe for success.

Johnson Butchers, of Thirsk, triumphed in the Northallerton and District Butchers' Association Value Added Competition - a contest to encourage traditional butchers to develop their service to customers.

Members of the association were challenged to produce as many different dishes as possible from a 6lb chicken.

The winning entry, prepared by Johnson's owners, Andrew and Sarah-Jane Trueman, included a chicken kiev, a tandoori stir-fry, chicken en croute, chicken stroganoff, stuffed thighs and kebabs in ten dishes.

The annual competition, held at the Station Hotel, Northallerton, is sponsored by the The Northern Echo's sister paper, The Darlington and Stockton Times, and was judged by its editor, Malcolm Warne, and his wife, Sylvia.

Mr Warne said: "All the entrants showed tremendous creativity and flair in preparing and presenting the platters."