A WINSFORD takeaway has reached pie-fection in a new guide compiling the nation’s very best hand-held pastry snacks.

Martin Tarbuck scoured Britain looking for top examples of the nation’s favourite meal-to-go for his book, Life of Pies.

And when he heard that Winsford chippy, Foodcraft, had been producing its own hand-made delicacies for the past 54 years, he had to check out what was on offer.

“Apart from the novel concept of being both a pie shop and a chip shop, I remember the pie being huge and really heavy in my hands, and throughout the shop there was a real sense of pride in their output,” recalled Martin.

“Let’s just say there are no airs and graces about what I’m looking for; just good, wholesome, traditional meaty pies, and the meat and potato one I had from Foodcraft certainly fitted that bill.

“The biggest problem I faced was trying to resist buying a bag of chips to go with it, as I do try and retain my professionalism when reviewing the pies, and try not to even have gravy or sauce with it in order to concentrate solely on the pie itself.”

FoodCraft has been baking Pies since it launched in late 1959.

John Finney Sr bought the shop seven years later in 1967. John has a strong history within the baking trade - his parents actually owned a bakers and confectioners shop on the High Street before being compulsory purchased and was knocked down to make way for the A54.

Samantha Finney said: “We know that Martin has travelled the length and breadth of Britain looking for what he considers to be the very best, and to gain a spot in his book from the hundreds of pies tested is quite exciting.

“We feel very proud of our pies which bring in customers from far afield, and are produced right here in our home town of Winsford.”

Foodcraft’s pies, along with 313 others of the nation’s best, feature in Life of Pies, available from lifeofpies.co.uk