A DUNFERMLINE butcher who took over his shop just weeks before lockdown and proved a lifeline for the community has been named as Scotland’s High Street Hero.

Bryan Beveridge said he "couldn't be prouder" after picking up the top award at the inaugural Scotland Loves Local Awards.

It came after judges were told of the tireless work that he and his team have done since the pandemic hit – including making 100 deliveries a week to customers.

Bryan said: "It’s magic. I’m delighted. I’ve got great support from my staff. If they hadn’t bought into what we were doing it would have been chaos.

“I couldn’t be prouder."

News of his award was announced during an online celebration – presented by STV’s Sean Batty – in which the audience heard moving testimony of his enterprise and efforts.

And the butcher admitted: "At the time when we were open last year, the last thing I was thinking about was something like this.

"It’s great to be recognised but you’re only as good as the people behind you.

"I know it’s my name above the door, which is fantastic, but it’s the staff and public who’ve bought into this.”

Bryan, 56, a butcher of 40 years standing, took charge of what was formerly Johnston Butchers on Dunfermline's High Street, where he had worked for the previous 15 years, on March 1 last year. Lockdown came into force later that month.

As the pandemic took hold, he and his team, who source all of their produce locally, launched a delivery service which stretched as far as Dalgety Bay and Cowdenbeath, set up a website and branched into social media to serve customers.

It was an effort appreciated by the community with customer numbers up by a quarter, allowing him to recruit an apprentice and factory manager.

Dunfermline North councillor Helen Law was among those who nominated the veteran butcher and said: “Bryan has been a real hero during the pandemic.

"He was really in at the deep end but he’s done a fantastic job.

“He really became a lifeline for the whole of the community. His shop’s fantastic and has gone from strength to strength.”

After the challenges of COVID, Bryan reckons the role of local businesses has never been more important, as the Scotland Loves Local campaign urges everyone to think, choose and spend locally to ensure their survival.

He added: “The High Street is the backbone of the town.

"It was hard for us during the first lockdown because we were the only shop open for 200 or 300 yards.

"That was quite an experience – even for the staff to need letters to say they were working in a butcher’s.

“It was quite a scary time. It was hard. No-one had answers. You had to think seriously about what was going on.”

Organised by Scotland's Towns Partnership, the Scotland Loves Local Awards recognised and rewarded remarkable work taking place to transform communities, including tackling the climate emergency and creating amazing art.

They also highlight the vital need for people to think, choose and spend local to help businesses in their community survive the impact of COVID-19.

For more information about the awards and the Scotland Loves Local campaign, visit www.lovelocal.scot.