A BUTCHER from Kirkby Malzeard hopes to topple the big boys in a national competition, using an idea borrowed from Fiji.

Mr Timothy Stothard, who runs the business started by his father 25 years ago in the village near Ripon, has come up with probably the most unusual entry in the meat product of the year competition.

While supermarket chains such as Sainsbury's will launch many of their new products in plastic containers in the "heat to eat" category, Mr Stothard's entry is contained and cooked in a coconut shell.

Mr Stothard explained: "It is called a Taupo, after the island of the same name off Fiji. We are entering a pork Taupo in a creamy, mushroom and wholegrain mustard sauce, as well as similar beef and lamb dishes. They are baked in the oven in a coconut which has a small chimney on top to let out the steam.

"One of my staff is well-travelled and he saw it when he was over there. He suggested we have a go with it so we developed the sauces and dressed them up a bit to make them look nice."

Despite the stern opposition - Sainsbury's alone has entered 50 products - Mr Stothard is confident of making his mark in the competition, which carries a first prize of £25,000 of marketing material.

He said: "I think we stand as good a chance as any and we are quietly confident we can do well. It's something different from the usual plastic tubs you stick in the microwave. It's got to be worth something just for the novelty value."

So can the good people of Kirkby Malzeard look forward to having coconut Taupos alongside their steaks and chops?

"Once the competition is over we are thinking about selling the coconuts in the shop," said Mr Stothard. "I think they will turn a few heads. I don't think anyone will have seen anything like it.

"I'm sure they will sell; anything a bit different sells.