A PORT Glasgow butcher's cut through the competition to bag a hat-trick of awards at a prestigious Scotland-wide competition.

Robert Alexander in Princes Street battled against the best in the country to come out tops for best steak, burger and speciality burger.

Owner Drew McKenzie says he was delighted to do so well at the Scottish heats of the Q Guild National Barbecue Championships in Perth.

Drew said: "We were well chuffed.

"It's quite a difficult competition to win because you are up against the top butchers, people who have won Scottish and British butcher of the year.

"It's nice to know we've beaten the best, especially in the category of steak and burgers."

Drew's speciality burger of steak encased with Stilton and red onion hit the spot with judges.

He said: "The burger went down really well, it won it out of the park."

The master butcher - who has been in the trade for 45 years - says quality products and attention to detail are the key to his success.

He said: "The judges look at the product raw and cooked and look at shrinkage.

"It is judged on 10 different criteria including appearance, consistency and taste.

"Consistency is very important, I only work with quality products all the way through."

Drew will now represent Scotland at the National Finals in St Albans in Hertfordshire on May 13.

He said: "We'll be putting Port Glasgow on the map."