He is a man who knows his sausages better than most. And now award-winning butcher David Lishman is leading the campaign to find a brilliant banger for Yorkshire.

After making thousands and thousands of sausages during his career, he feels it is time Yorkshire should have one it can truly call its own.

“The idea for a Yorkshire sausage came while I was making sausages one day,” said Mr Lishman.

“I’d been making Cumberland sausages and Lincolnshire sausages and thought there should be one for Yorkshire.

“Lots of butchers call their sausages Yorkshire sausages, but there isn’t a particular recipe.

“So I thought, let’s come up with a good sausage not just for us but for everybody so Yorkshire becomes known for its sausage.”

With the help of fellow butchers, old recipe books and his own experiences, Mr Lishman has now come up with six secret recipes for people to try in sampling sessions across the county before unveiling the winning sausage in Ilkley on Yorkshire Day, Monday, August 1.

People will be able to vote for their favourites after a blind taste test at various locations around the county.

Mr Lishman said: “We’ve gone for a good all-round sausage, nothing too wacky or novelty.”

The winner will become the Yorkshire Sausage, with the recipe passed on to butchers around the county.

Mr Lishman has the support of fellow butchers and the county’s tourism board, Welcome to Yorkshire, is giving its backing.

For further information on the campaign and forthcoming sampling events, visit yorkshire.com/delicious.