An Oakworth butcher has beaten the Dutch at their own game - and is also breaking down political barriers in one of the last bastions of the communist world.

Chris Battle, who owns Jack Scaife butchers, has won two top awards for the quality of his bacon in an international competition.

His Yorkshire dry cured oak-smoked back bacon and unsmoked back bacon both won top Gold star awards at the Freshfood 2003 event in Utrecht.

And his succulent sausages and lip-smacking rindless unsmoked back bacon have stimulated taste buds in Cuba, where British meat products are banned.

The Cubans were won over when samples were airlifted to Havana with a trade delegation of Agri-Food specialists from the East Riding.

Now the Cubans are thinking of loosening their trade barrier and are in talks with the UK's chief veterinarian, Dr James Scuddamore.

Mr Battle, his two daughters Angela, 28, Joanne Richardson, 32, and his wife Barbara, have already won worldwide fame for their products.

Mr Battle said: "I read about the competition in Holland and was amused because 70 per cent of the bacon sold in this country is Dutch and I thought it would be nice to beat them at their own game.

"And we did - we swept the board with that particular product after a blind tasting."

The request to help win over the Cubans came out of the blue, Mr Battle added.

"I was proud that a small family business in Oakworth was asked to take part because we are regarded as leaders in this field."

"The sausages and bacon were served at a special breakfast for 40 delegates, including Cuban government ministers."

Pauline Wade of Hull & Humber Chamber of Trade said: "The British Ambassador, Paul Hare, himself a Yorkshireman, beamed with pride as he presided over the breakfast.

"We were delighted to come away with a letter from Dr Carlos Delgado, the Cuban chief vet, addressed to the UK's chief veterinarian, which means that discussions are now taking place regarding terms for lifting the embargo," she said.

Jack Scaife's butchers, in Mill Lane, was the first in the county to set up a website in 1996 and now sells bacon worldwide as far away as the US and Japan.