It’s Stock-pork!

Market goers can now try a taste of Stockport with the launch of the town’s very own sausage.

The Stockport Tiddlypig has been created by butcher Simon Orman and is on sale in the Produce Hall as part of the market’s 750th anniversary celebrations.

Simon has mixed Cheshire pork with Robinson’s Unicorn Ale to create the borough’s banger.

"We were asked to try and create a sausage to celebrate the market’s anniversary and so far we have had a good response and people seem to like it," said butcher Simon, 50.

"I thought that it had to have a connection with Robinson’s Brewery as they are a good Stockport brand and are only a stone’s throw away from the Produce Hall.

"I wanted to tie the two together – the ‘tiddly’ part of the name refers to the beer and the pig refers to the pork.

"It seems to bring a little smile to some people’s faces and is better than saying just pork and ale.

"We have worked on the recipe for sometime now, testing it on our customers and I think we have got it just right.

"We have tried to keep the ingredients as local as possible."

The Tiddlypig follows on from Stockport Cheshire Cheese, launched earlier this year as part of the market celebrations.

Stockport Council has also launched a celebratory fresh food guide to Stockport Market.

Simon is hoping to enter his boozy banger in the British Star Sausage Competition to mark National Sausage Week in November.

The sausages have a 70 per cent meat content, and are made with natural casings in the Produce Hall every week.

They are available at Simon’ stall.

To mark the 750th anniversary, Stockport Council has prepared a full programme of events and exhibitions.

The events continue this weekend and will climax with a grand finale weekend held on October 23 and 24 with a medieval fair, resurrecting the centuries old tradition of St Wilfrid’s Fair.

Coun John Smith, executive member for leisure, said: "This is a landmark year for Stockport Market, as it celebrates its 750th anniversary.

"It is fantastic that we can work with the traders to promote some of the fantastic produce we have to offer."

For further details about the historic street market and other events planned to celebrate Stockport Market’s 750th anniversary, call the Tourist Information Centre on 474 4444 or visit www.stockport.gov.uk/stockportmarket