Never work with children or animals is an adage as useful to journalists as the acting profession – but dead animals?

The lesson was learned the hard way by Ian Murray, of the Southern Daily Echo in Southampton, when he joined fellow editor Alan Cleaver, from the Winchester-based Hampshire Chronicle, to judge the first Great Hampshire Sausage Competition.

Butchers and producers from across the county had gathered at a pub to show off the finest bangers in Hampshire.

Sounds ideal: the only snag was the sheer number and variety on offer.

There were 49 to sample, from pork, apple and stilton to venison, watercress and red wine – plus Ian’s own personal favourite, pork and marmalade.

However, Ian, who was last seen heading out the door muttering something about hoping he wasn’t having toad in the hole for tea, is unlikely to be taking the organiser’s advice to tuck into Hampshire-made sausages on a more regular basis.

Ian said: “I didn’t realise when I volunteered to be a judge that I would have to sample 49 of the things.

“Unfortunately I even went round twice in the first round during a regrettable act of bravado. I can safely say I shall not be eating sausage again until Easter.”

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