A YORK businessman was travelling across Europe today to deliver 35 kilos of haggis to a St Andrew's Day ball in Prague.

Simon Aldrich, 31, sales and marketing director for Expatshopping.com, the York-based internet "supermarket", was taking the haggis by hand after a courier company failed to deliver it on time.

The company, which provides the 13.5 million British expats around the world with their favourite foods from home, recently signed a deal with world-renowned haggis producer, Macsween of Edinburgh.

Mr Aldrich, who was catching an early plane from Manchester to the Czech Republic today, said: "The haggis will be transported in my luggage.

"It wouldn't be much of a St Andrews Day function without it, so it was essential I got it out there."

The ball, which is being held in Prague's Hotel Intercontinental, has the British Ambassador as its guest of honour.

"I've been officially invited to the party, but I'll probably be sick of the sight of haggis by the time I get there!" said Mr Aldrich.

Updated: 10:24 Saturday, November 17, 2001