A PUB landlord whose trade suffered during last year's foot and mouth epidemic has triumphed in a national pie-making contest.

Andy Cole, who runs the Wombwell Arms, in Wass, is officially one of the top six steak pie-makers in the UK.

"I didn't even know we were in the competition until the organisers rang us," he said.

"Someone has entered us in the competition without our knowing. It was a nice surprise.

"Ourselves and the five other finalists will go down to Milton Keynes on March 19 where we will have to cook our pies for the judges."

Andy and his wife, Susan, took over the pub 15 months ago, just before the foot and mouth outbreak struck.

"We lost a lot of trade because of the restrictions on the North York Moors," said Andy. "It's good to know our persistence in staying with the business has paid off.

"The pie is made from a specially-adapted recipe put together by our brilliant chef, Andrew Hudson. We use local produce and the meat is from local butchers."

Updated: 10:15 Saturday, March 09, 2002