RARE breed pork and sausages have gone on sale at a Leyburn shop, thanks to business links forged between the proprietor and a Wensleydale farmer.

Anne Kiely, who runs the Happy Piggy Park farm at Aysgarth, began selling her produce through the Dales Meat and Pie Shop, in the Market Place, this week and hopes the partnership will allow her to build up her rare breed herd from 55 towards the 350 she had before the foot-and-mouth crisis of 2001.

Two carcases were hung and cut up at the weekend by butcher Peter Wilkinson, who took over the shop earlier this year, and pork and sausages went on sale at the beginning of the week. Two more pigs from Mrs Kiely are due at the shop at the end of April.

"Peter had bought the odd pig from me when he was the butcher at the former Quality Fare store in Leyburn," said Mrs Kiely, who farms with her husband, David. "I got in touch and he agreed to take Happy Piggy pork in his new shop."

Happy Piggy sausages, which proved popular before foot-and-mouth halted production, have been relaunched, with Mr Wilkinson making them on his premises.

There are also plans to introduce Hoggpoggs and Piggypoggs - flavoured burgers - using the rare breed meat.

"We had just got those under way when foot-and-mouth hit but we hope some of the catering customers who bought our sausages will be interested in them, too," said Mrs Kiely.

The Happy Piggy herd of traditional rare breeds includes Tamworth and Gloucester Old Spot, which are run together in the open air. They are fed only natural foods, such as unwanted vegetables from market stalls, and get no concentrates.