PAUL Sykes and his team make thousands of pies every week.

The poultry and game dealer, who started Paul’s Pies in 2011, makes a range of award winning pies including venison and mushroom, chicken and mushroom, steak and Guinness, and a vegetarian homity pie.

The pies are made using traditional beef suet pastry, which his mum taught him how to make.

The vegetarian pie, however, is made using all butter wholemeal pastry.

“Everything is handmade. We have total control over the ingredients and where they come from,” said Paul, who makes the pies with his team in Coleshill.

“I only started making them as an experiment for the farmer’s market in 2011. My customers are the ones that encouraged me to take it to the wider retail market. It has all happened by accident but I think a lot of great ideas do happen by accident.”

Paul’s Pies, which has won more than 15 food awards, launched the latest addition to its range this week – a classic British steak and kidney pie.

Created in support of The Royal British Legion and in dedication to all those who fought in the Great War, the new pie was also inspired by the memory of Paul’s grandfather, Corporal William Sykes RE MM, a career soldier who joined up in 1908, survived the First World War and was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field.

Ten percent of all profits from sales of the pie will be donated to The Royal British Legion and Paul’s Pies is encouraging all its retailers to match donations from sales of the pie.

Paul said: “My grandfather was a career soldier in 1914, fought in all the major European campaigns and was awarded the military medal for bravery in the field. In 1939, he tried to sign up again but was told, ‘you’ve done your bit old man’.

“My grandfather is an inspiration to me and I’m dedicating this new pie to his memory and to all those who fought in the Great War.”

The pies are available from Budgens, Burford Garden Centre, Purton Farm Shop, Trenchers in Swindon Designer Outlet, and Bloomfields in Highworth and Shrivenham.

The pies are £3.50 each. For more information or to buy a pie visit www.paulspies.co.uk.