A young butcher has won a national award.

Elsie Yardley, 23, has been crowned retail student of the year thanks to her hard work at Hards of Halstead, which is based off High Street.

Miss Yardley came first in the category, ahead of a number of employees from big retailers, and collected her award at a livery hall in London.

Shop owner Nick Hards said: “She has worked very hard for this and myself and the rest of my staff are very proud.

“We were one of the only small independent traditional butcher shops among a lot of the bigger retailers.”

Last year, Miss Yardley was the only woman to be shortlisted for Premier Young Butcher of the Year.