BRIDPORT butchers and England's oldest family business, RJ Balson and Son met the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in his back garden at No 10 Downing Street.

They were invited to attend the Farm to Fork Summit 2024, an event celebrating local businesses and farmers selling locally sourced food.

The butcher's on West Allington was established in 1515 and owner Richard Balson, 65, is the 25th generation of owners.

Mr Balson and his team cooked 220 pork and Tudor rose sausages for the Prime Minister and 100 of his guests on Tuesday, May 14.

South West Farmer: The RJ Balson and Son van outside 10 Downing StreetThe RJ Balson and Son van outside 10 Downing Street (Image: RJ Balson and Son)

The Tudor rose sausages are the oldest recipe that the butchers have and they were enjoyed by guests at the event.

Richi Sunak was also invited to become the first Prime Minister to visit the butcher shop in Bridport.

Mr Balson said: "We had a personal invite from the Prime Minister to be part of holding a celebration of local food.

"We were one of nine local food producers from across the country and we set up in a big tent and cooked about 500 sausages.

"It was a fantastic experience because we got to walk through the doors of Number 10.

"There was an issue using the back entrance so we actually had to take all our produce through the doors, through the building, down the stairs and into the garden, which was quite a trek actually.

South West Farmer: A Tractor was parked outside 10 Downing Street for the eventA Tractor was parked outside 10 Downing Street for the event (Image: RJ Balson and Son)

"We had lots of complimentary comments on our sausages and when we told people that we are England's oldest family business, 508 years old, they were outstanding and amazed.

"Everything about the event was great, it was a long way to go but you can't refuse an opportunity like that and we were privileged to be asked."

Mr Balson also invited Rishi Sunak to become the first Prime Minister to step through the doors of the butcher shop in Bridport.

South West Farmer: Rishi Sunak and Richard Balson at the event at 10 Downing StreetRishi Sunak and Richard Balson at the event at 10 Downing Street (Image: RJ Balson and Son)

The business had tried to get former Prime Minister Boris Johnson to be the first, but the Covid-19 pandemic had prevented the visit from happening.

Mr Balson said: "We spoke to Rishi Sunak, I said we would love you to come to Bridport and you could be the first Prime Minister to step through our doors.

"He said that he would so we will wait and see if that comes true.

"He was very nice and he enjoyed his sausage so that was great."