VENISON reared in Barnsley will be on dinner tables across the country this Christmas.

Staff at Round Green venison farm, Stainborough, have been working extra hours to meet the demand for the meat.

And in the 25 years the farm has been selling venison, owner Richard Elmhirst says he has seen the market rocket - especially at Christmas. The farm, which can be seen from the M1, supplies supermarket chains Sainsburys and Waitrose.

"Their sales are going up and up. In fact sales of venison at all supermarkets are increasing, Morrisons is now selling it as well."

He says the increase in popularity is largely due to the game-style meat becoming fashionable with celebrity chefs - including Yorkshire cook Brian Turner.

Richard said: "I think it is a lot to do with tv chefs, there are a lot more featuring venison. I'm sure that has had a knock-on effect, it's hard to measure it but it goes mad during the run up to Christmas.

"I would say our normal sales double."

Hazlehead Hall farm, near Millhouse, has noticed a similar rise in demand and farmer William Booth says his customers are demanding 'back-to-basics' meat - with prime cuts of pork and beef proving popular.

He said: "Today’s consumers are much more aware of the importance of starting with a great piece of meat that has been reared on the farm free-range and has travelled zero food miles.