A FARMING couple are celebrating having their homemade sausages sizzle on to the supermarket shelves.

Less than five years since Debbie and Andrew Keeble had their sausages tried and tested on family and friends around the kitchen table they are having them sent out to every major supermarket chain in the country.

The Manor Born Sausages, produced at the couple's home in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, will be available from Sainsbury's, Tesco, Morrisons, Asda and the Co-op by the end of the month.

The farmers founded the company in 1999 to add value to their pigs. They have been able to expand the business with new production facilities and create branding for their products with the help of grants under Defra's England Rural Development Programme.

While they are delighted to be supplying all the major supermarkets, Mrs Keeble said that it has taken a lot of hard work and a few changes before it came to fruition.

"The old packaging was okay in our local stores where many of the customers knew us and the sausages, but it wouldn't catch the eye of customers further afield," she said.

"So we worked with a design consultancy and they came up with the 'Debbie & Andrew' idea which has a more personal touch."

The pair spotted a niche in the market for high-quality sausages, made to traditional recipes.

As well as supplying supermarket chains, the company produces its own brand ranges for Virgin Trains and Midland Mainline services.