A FAMILY butcher has won a contract with supermarket chain Asda to supply sausages to five stores in the North-East.

MI Dicksons, of South Shields, said the deal will help safeguard 250 jobs and strengthen its presence in the region.

The company, which operates 20 shops and recently invested £500,000 in its factory, will initially supply sausages to Asda stores in Boldon, Sunderland, Gosforth, Gateshead and Washington.

Managing director Michael Dickson could not disclose what the contract was worth, but said it could lead to more work with Asda in the future.

"We are well represented by our own branches throughout Tyne and Wear, but by working with Asda we have been given the opportunity to reach the broader local market through listing in some of their biggest stores, which is a very exciting prospect," he said.

"We are hopeful that this contract could lead to us supplying our sausages through more Asda stores in the North-East, but we will have to wait and see."

Asda spokesman James Dodds said: "We are keen to satisfy the increasing demand for traditional regional products and to support local suppliers.

"Dicksons has been well established in the North-East for more than 50 years, and they are just the sort of business we want to establish a trading partnership with.

"We're hoping to list more of their products heading into the autumn."

Two years ago, Dicksons invested £825,000 to extend its factory and head office on the Middlefields Industrial Estate. Last year, the company ploughed a further £500,000 into the business for improvements.

Dicksons is one of around 20 regional food suppliers working with Asda.

Mr Dickson added: "We have invested heavily in our purpose-built factory in South Shields and this type of opportunity helps to justify that commitment and safeguards local jobs."