A champion sausage maker is expanding his award-winning butcher's shop in Ilkley.

The £150,000 project is the second extension to David Lishman butchers in Leeds Road in the last three years.

The neighbouring building - a butcher's shop itself 50 years ago - will be knocked through and refurbished in time for opening in Easter.

Mr Lishman said the latest development would provide much-needed space to display more products.

The business will also be introducing new goods with an international flavour, such as olive oils, balsamic vinegars, home-made pickles and chutneys and spices from all corners of the globe.

But Mr Lishman said: "We will never lose sight of the fact that our success has been built on our role as a traditional independent butcher, and while constantly looking to enhance our product ranges and customer service, this emphasis will continue in the future."

Mr Lishman has been in the trade since leaving school and started his own business in Ilkley in 1986.

He is the reigning Yorkshire champion sausage maker and was voted national Supreme Champ-ion of Champions last year. This year he was among the judges of the competition with snooker star Willie Thorne.

The successful butcher has also won awards for his pork sausages, pies and dry-cured bacon. And he specialises in rearing Saddleback, Tamworth and Gloucester Old Spot pig breeds on a farm at Darley.

Two-and-a-half years ago he expanded, buying the shop in Leeds Road. His new venture doubles the size of the business. The new premises were formerly a fishing tackle shop, a hairdressers, a computing shop and a travel agency.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.