AWARD-winning pig farmer Jimmy Butler had the perfect welcome treat for TV chefs the Hairy Bikers on their culinary tour of Britain.He served a slow-roasted shoulder of pork joint with home-made Bramley's apple sauce for their breakfast when they arrived to tour his Blythburgh Free Range farm.

AWARD-winning pig farmer Jimmy Butler had the perfect welcome treat for TV chefs the Hairy Bikers on their culinary tour of Britain.

He served a slow-roasted shoulder of pork joint with home-made Bramley's apple sauce for their breakfast when they arrived to tour his Blythburgh Free Range farm.

'They were making a series about great British food and they're visiting 28 counties around England for a BBC2 programme,' said Mr Butler, who runs about 1,700 sows on the light sandy soils close to the Suffolk coast.

'They were great fun and I really enjoyed showing them the pigs. And they just loved my pork and they couldn't get enough of it. They kept on about it and thought it was absolutely marvellous,' he added.

His younger son, Alistair, said that the Hairy Bikers were looking at pork production in Suffolk because it is important in the county.

'They were basically learning how the best pork is produced and were going to go away and cook a lot of chops for their TV programme,' he added.

His father said: 'I was sorry to see them go because they're great ambassadors for British food.' Mr Butler, who is a former pig farmer of the year rears and finishes all his stock oudoors. He supplies Waitrose and also an increasing volume to butchers across the region with his Blythburgh free range brand.

'Those two enjoy good food and they're doing a terrific job around the country. I couldn't believe it but we out there in the pigs and they just sat down and started having a chat about pig farming. Soon the pigs were coming around, and snuffling and nibbling on their clothes. They were just nice people.'

They were touring Suffolk to make the programme, which is part of a six-week series which will be broadcast on BBC in June in the early evening.