CONCERNS over food standards, following the discovery of horse meat in burgers and processed food in some British supermarkets, has brought good news for local butchers.

According to Farmers' Weekly magazine since the scandal broke three weeks ago independent butchers nationally have reported a 10% increase in sales, including 40% for beefburgers.

A L Martin and Son Butchers have traded in Okehampton for almost 70 years. The firm was set up by Leslie Martin in the town 68 years ago and continued by his son, John, and his wife, Daphne.

While their son, Phil, runs the shop in Okehampton his brother, Andy, manages their shop in Chagford, with a further outlet in North Tawton.

The emphasis is very much on local produce, with beef from Coombes of Okehampton, pork and bacon from Launceston, butter and cream from Dunns of Exbourne, and lamb from West Devon Meat at Hatherleigh.

Phil Martin said: 'We have been quite busy since the horse meat news broke, we have seen a lot of new people coming in.

'A lot of people we have spoken to have had a joke about it. The real reaction though has been the same from everyone, people think the deception is disgusting.

'If you go into a supermarket now, you can't know what it is. I think this whole thing has opened a lot of people's eyes, and hopefully people will begin to shop locally at shops like ours and buy local produce.

'Our business having been a family business for so long inspires trust in our customers. If it didn't, we wouldn't be around today. If people continue to use their local butchers and keep these things going, they will know where their meat comes from, and exactly what it is.'

Another popular butcher is Stuart Luxton, of Farmer Luxton's, who runs a farm which produces all the beef and lamb sold in his shop.

The rest of the meat sold at Farmer Luxton's is sourced in Devon, including from Newton Abbot and Crediton.

Stuart Luxton said: 'There has definitely been a run of new faces since the scandal broke. New people have been coming in, and the general feeling among our customers is that people really don't like what is going on.

'Personally, my biggest gripe is that I'm a farmer, and in all this farmers seem to be getting the rawest deal. These days there is so much paperwork in terms of movement licenses, meat passports and things, there are so many hoops for farmers to jump through. I can't emphasise how tough these things make life for a farmer.

'Yet supermarkets go and buy meat for cheap, and don't thoroughly check where it is coming from, what do they expect? It really takes the mickey.

'Local farmers and butchers like ourselves can tell people exactly where our produce has come from, and that inspires trust.

'We can say our beef and lamb was from our farm, our poultry and other meats are all sourced from Devon. I think this means a lot to people, especially now.'

At Lifton Farm Shop the family firm prides itself that the meat it sells is either reared on its farm in Lifton, or supplied from other local farms, ensuring complete tractability.

Spokeswoman Laura Mounce said there had been a notable increase in demand for meats from their butchery.

She said: 'Our beef is our own South Devon suckle herd, we rear our own turkeys and lamb and the pork is supplied from Cornwall.'