A row has broken out in the south west after a Devon baker was given the prize for Britain's best Cornish pasty.

Cornish bakers are now threatening to boycott next year's ceremony after an appeal to disqualify the winners, Chunk, failed. Matthew O'Callaghan, chairman of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association, which organised the inaugural British Pie Awards, admitted to an "administrative cock up".

"There was supposed to be a disclaimer on the application form which stated all entrants to the Cornish Pasty competition must come from Cornwall," he said.  Chunk would keep its award because it was an "honest mistake", but the rules would be made much clearer in future, he added.

Ann Muller, of the Lizard Pasty Shop, complained: "Why do they want to call their pasties Cornish? They're happy to call their cream teas Devonshire and we've got Cornish cream teas. Let them put their pasties into a competition but call it a Devonshire pasty. Don't forget where the border is."

But Chunk's managing director Simon Bryon-Edmond defended his firm's right to the title and accused Cornish rivals of complacency. "It seems the Cornish may have got a bit podgy round the waist when it comes to pasty-making and have been relaxing and rather resting on their laurels," he said. "We like everything to be as natural as possible. The recipe is no great secret. We use the best ingredients and the best herbs and spices."

So it was a competition for pasties from Cornwall rather than Cornish pasties...


The Tresoddit Defence Corps were mobilising...

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