A WORCESTER meat firm welcomed two stars best known for playing butchers in long-running soap Coronation Street as it threw a party to celebrate its 20th birthday.

Andy Whyment, who has played Kirk Sutherland since 2000, and Steven Arnold, who appeared as Ashley Peacock from 1996 until the character was killed off in a dramatic tram crash in 2010, were on hand at the event arranged by D&M Meats in the Venture Business Park in Weir Lane, Lower Wick, on Sunday, September 6.

The shop was teeming with activity as crowds of visitors took advantage of the deals and took selfies with the stars to be in with a chance of winning a £100 hamper and also enjoyed a barbecue while youngsters had fun on a bouncy castle.

Both stars agreed they were impressed with the range of products on offer, with Mr Arnold saying: “We’ve had a really nice day.

“Everyone has been really welcoming.

“It’s a great shop and it does some really good deals. “It’s a good way to come and do your shopping.

“I think a lot of people will need to get a bigger freezer after this.”

Michael Jacob, who runs the firm along with Dave Grubb, said he was delighted with how well the event had gone.

“We’ve been here for two or three years now,” he said.

“When we left the market we decided to open this to the public.

“We have a lot of regular customers because we were down in the market for 20 years.”

The family-run firm previously traded as part of the market in Angel Place, but was forced to move on as part of Worcester City Council’s £555,000 redevelopment of the area. But the company has gone from strength to strength since relocating to its new premises earlier this year and recently expanded its opening hours to seven days a week.