TWO County Durham butchers have proved they are a cut above the rest after winning national qualifications.

Ivan Lowther, 35, manager of H Coates and Son butchers, in Coxhoe, and Jason Kane, 33, a butcher at the same company's Framwellgate Moor outlet, have each been awarded the Meat Training Council's Level 3 qualification in supervisory management.

Both men were given in-house training by Peter Burke, butchery NVQ assessor with Sunderland-based PSB Training, the only Meat Training Council-approved body in the North.

Mr Burke said yesterday: "These qualifications are rarely awarded and in 15 years in the North-East I have only seen six gained.''

The awards mark a hat-trick for H Coates and Son, which also saw one of its former managers, Paul Craddock, awarded the qualification last year. Mr Burke added: "For half of the regionally-gained qualifications to go to butchers with H Coates and Son within 12 months of embarking on the course is really something special.''

Further praise came from David Grailey, chief executive of the Meat Training Council who said: "It is certainly unusual in a retail environment to have three individuals gain the Level 3 qualification.

"It is a major achievement and demonstrates a serious commitment to staff development on the part of Coates Butchers.

Company owner Harry Coates, who works alongside schools and has recruited staff after they have been on work experience with his company, said: "By employing a mix of experienced, highly-skilled personnel and bringing through keen and willing younger people, we feel we are well placed to respond to future opportunities and challenges.''