THEY have been just a year in the making, but Paul Sykes has already got the judges wanting to eat all the pies.

The 37-year-old pie-maker and poultry and game dealer, who started Paul’s Poultry and Game in Coleshill last April, has been crowned Wiltshire Independent Food Producer of the Year 2012.

Judges praised his range of pies at the competition last week, which saw him beat pie-makers across the county.

“It was for my range of meat pies. It’s about what you do, not just about a single item,” he said. “I’m thrilled to have received this amazing accolade after only one year of trading.

“A lot of hard work has gone into getting my business up and running over the past year and to receive this recognition from the Wiltshire Life Awards feels fantastic.”

Paul beat competition from former Savoy and Le Caprice pastry chef Colin Grossi, of The Dessert Shop, in Salisbury, and third generation Devizes butcher Walter Rose and Son to take the title at the Wiltshire Life Awards last week.

In September, Paul was awarded a gold award in the savoury bakery category at the Taste of the West Awards for his venison and mushroom pie. He won a silver award in the same category for his chicken and mushroom pie.

“Obviously I have got my secret recipe, which I can’t reveal, but the secret is really just not making things too complicated and using good ingredients,” he said. “It’s cooking something that you really like and making sure you can get it up to a level where every single pie is as good as the last one.”

Now in their seventh year, the Wiltshire Life Awards, run by Wiltshire Life magazine, honour those who make outstanding contributions to county life.

The Independent Food Producer of the Year Award, one of 12 categories, is presented to the person who has produced a high quality or unique product, whether it is vegetable, meat, fish, dairy or beverage, and who has developed strategies to sell their produce throughout the county and beyond.

The pies are available from www.paulspoultry.co.uk.