THE contents of pies became an important issue before Bolton magistrates yesterday.

Mrs Christine Armstrong had been summoned for selling potato and meat pies with insufficient meat inside them.

But at an earlier hearing when the summonses were put to her it was said that she had sold meat and potato pies and not potato and meat pies. She pleaded not guilty.

Yesterday the correct summonses of selling potato and meat pies were put to her and she pleaded guilty.

Miss Margaret Stoney, prosecuting for Bolton Council, explained the difference - meat and potato pies should have a minimum of 12.5pc meat, and potato and meat a minimum of 10pc meat.

Miss Stoney said that test purchases were made at the shop, run by Mrs Armstrong and her husband, Terence, who was the baker, in Morris Green Lane, Bolton. Three of the pies had 8.5pct meat, 8.6pc meat and 8.1pc.

Mr Michael Garstang, defending, explained that the difference between the contents in meat and potato, and potato and meat pies was important because it could affect the penalties.

He explained that a machine which made the pies had been modified and, unknown to the Armstrongs it had increased the thickness of the pastry in the base and because of the contents of the pies this reduced the meat content.

He added that, after taking professional advice and changing their butcher, the meat content was now much higher than the legal limit. Mr Garstang said that the couple had been in business for 25 years and had many recommendations for their pies.

He added: "They take their business seriously and they were not trying to pull the wool over the eyes of their customers. It was a simple error."

Mrs Armstrong was fined £300 and ordered to pay £595 costs.

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