THE season's far from over yet- but Dumbarton FC are already celebrating a credible title challenge.

For the pies which are dished up at the CID Stadium have won a silver award at the World Championship Scotch Pie Awards 2017.

Pars Foods, who supply the pies to the Championship outfit, won the award in the Football Pie category.

A spokesperson for Pars Foods said: "We are delighted with our win and can go away with our heads held very high indeed.

"To have been judged as one of the best in the land against so many of our peers is a huge achievement."

Awards presenter Carol Smillie said: "I am delighted to have been asked to come along and present the World Championship Scotch Pie Awards for a second time.

"Each and every butcher and baker here knows they make something special so a confirmation of this kind is the real icing on the cake.

"Following the busiest judging day ever with some 100 butchers and bakers entering over 500 pies, pasties, sausage rolls, bridies, savouries and apple pies into the competition and with some 300 hopefuls attending the awards luncheon in Cumbernauld, all the butchers and bakers shortlisted can truly be proud to have produced some of the best products in the land."

The competition, which has run for 18 years, aims to highlight that bakers and butchers create high quality pastry products.

"Recognising the great and the good in this way rewards excellence and raises the bar in the industry," said head judge Ian Nelson, who oversaw the judging process to ensure only the best pies are recognised- and that only the best of the best is crowned world champion.

The overall winner was Brownings the Bakers, of Kilmarnock, and Alan Clarke of Scottish Bakers, said "Once again we have brought together the best pies and baked goods in the land and we can really celebrate the achievement of our hard working butchers and bakers.

"My heartfelt congratulations go to our winner, and indeed everyone today taking away a prize, they are all winners in my book."

The competition is run and organised by Scottish Bakers which actively supports and promotes bakers and butchers in Scotland by encouraging and sharing best practise.

Rosalind Carr, of Sports Catering, said: "It's a tremendous achievement for Pars. I think they won 9 awards in total.

"At Dumbarton we are very proud to be involved.

"We like to think it's the tender loving care we give to each pie!"

Further information on the awards is available at www.worldchampionshipscotchpieawards.org