A family-owned west Norfolk butchers is celebrating its 60th anniversary while looking ahead to the future.

Eastern Daily Press: Priors of West Lynn is celebrating its 60th Year - Andy Prior (right) is now the 4th generation involved in the business, with his Dad Chris Prior. Picture: Matthew Usher.Priors of West Lynn is celebrating its 60th Year - Andy Prior (right) is now the 4th generation involved in the business, with his Dad Chris Prior. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: © ARCHANT NORFOLK 2016)

Everything a food-lover could wish for is on offer at Priors of West Lynn, on St Peter's Road, from hand-crafted pies to ready meals made in-house by their team.

And now Andy Prior, the fourth generation of the family to have a hand in the business, is using social media to target customers to make its produce even more appealing.

Mr Prior, 28 of South Wooton, said: 'I am proud that the business has done so well over the last 60 years. I am hopeful we can continue to push Priors over the next 60 years. We are not going to rest on our laurels.'

When the butchers first opened in 1956 by Edward Hector Prior – Andy's great-grandfather - just his son Eric managed the shop, aided by a delivery man going out door to door selling meat.

Now 20 staff are behind driving Priors forward and, as part of a new initiative to encourage its customers who miss weekday opening hours, it will now be open until 7pm on Friday nights.

'Customers come to us not just for meat but for their overall shop. I think at the minute there is a trend of supporting independent shops,' Mr Prior added.

The father-of-one rejoined the family shop last summer after completing a business studies degree at the University of Lincoln and working for a transport company.

Every day he posts offers, pictures, recipes and competitions on the 'Priors Butchers West Lynn' Facebook page.

His father Chris Prior said: 'It has helped to keep us on the radar. The beauty of social media is that it not only appeals to our existing customer base but helps us attract a new client base and a younger generation of customers.

'The business has evolved and progressed dramatically over the last 60 years but particularly over the last 10 years. We would like to think that we are more than a butcher now but still highly value the traditions of a typical butchers shop.'

Do you have a story about a family shop? Email sophie.biddle@archant.co.uk