A YORK butcher has proved his skills are world-class after competing in an international competition.

Phillip Pirie, 23, who works at Wilson's Butchers in Huntington, travelled to the French Alps for the International Young Butchers' competition.

And he was ranked tenth in the world - and earned England fifth position in partnership with a butcher from Burnley.

He said: "They tested knife skills by getting us to cut a hindquarter of beef in primal joints, boning it, doing barbecue platters and that sort of thing.

"They must have thought I hadn't let the country down because I've been invited to take part in the competition in Germany next year."

Updated: 09:55 Saturday, October 20, 2001