A HOBBY which turned into a global sensation has seen one St John's butcher land a coveted award from YouTube.

Scott Rea was delighted to receive a letter of congratulations and a YouTube Silver Button after wracking up over 100,000 subscribers to his channel.

The Scott Rea Project videos have amassed nearly 30million views worldwide with fans enjoying his traditional butchery tutorials.

After three years, Mr Rea has messages from across the world, has featured in national magazines and newspapers as well as appeared on CNN and Russell Kane's Stupid Man, Smart Phone.

The 44-year-old, who has been a butcher for 28 years, said: "It's been unbelievable. I've managed to find a niche and I'm putting in lots of hard work - it's just amazing really.

"It's a great milestone we have managed to achieve, it doesn't sound like a lot but to get 100,000 subscribers is a really big deal. The next milestone is one million.

"The comments come from people all around the world - even vegetarians get in touch to say they like how I respect the animals."

Despite offers flooding in to work around the world, Mr Rea still has his day job as a butcher in a shop in Worcester where he gets recognised by fans.

"I get people come into work and they cruise by again and again.

"One cashier said there were two people asking "Is that really Scott Rea?" and they will come up to me and shake my hand.

"All these offers and stuff going on, it's absolutely mad for a boy from Worcester, it's something you read happening to someone else.

"It's just nuts but I'm not complaining."

He believes his success is down to finding a niche at a time where there has been a sea change in the way people think about their food.

His videos are most popular in America but have been watched all around the world.

The letter from YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki said: "Each and every person who has subscribed to your channel was touched by what you did.

"They were inspired, or challenged, or entertained.

"You made it to this milestone with hard word, perseverance and - chances are - a healthy sense of humour."

"I think a lot of people are looking differently at their food and think about meat.

"People are buying butchery knives as presents and are interested in the traditional methods.

"It's also a lot of hard work and time, a 20 minute video can take 12 hours to set up and I do it all myself - film, edit then render it.

"But when you see how many people are watching it and where they are watching it, it is absolutely awesome."

To see the videos, log on to youtube.com/user/TheScottReaproject.