INVENTED by the ancient Sumerians 5,000 years ago, they were loved by the Romans, banned by the Catholic church and filled so full of water during the Second World War they exploded. And if you want the very best ones, head to your local farmers’ market.

What are they? Sausages, of course, and as this week is national British Sausage Week, we thought it would be a good time to highlight the truly exceptional range of bangers available on your Worcestershire farmers’ market stalls.

A quick stroll around will show you that sausage-making is alive and well in Worcestershire with a huge variety of on offer. On the Eye Game Larder stall, for example, you will find venison, mixed game (pheasant, pigeon, partridge and venison), Gloucester Old Spot and wild boar cross sausages, as well as the popular blood sausage.

Barbara Morris, of Eye Game Larder, said: “What we produce is what we would like to eat ourselves.”

There are all manner of lamb sausage varieties on the Vicarage Fruit Farm stall, including lamb and mint; lamb and redcurrant; lamb and damson and macon sausage, which is dry-cured lamb.

Stallholder Henry Wormington is usually cooking a few samples, so you can try before you buy.

At Rochford Country Meats you will find traditional pork; beef and beer; venison, lamb and mint; and pork and leek sausages.

All the pigs from which the pork comes are reared on the Keysell family’s 90-acre Worcestershire farm.You will also find sausages on the stalls run by G&R Tudge, Elmore Farm Foods, Larkin’s Family Meats and Parson’s Nose – with varieties from duck to pork, lamb to venison and many, more.

All of the sausages at your farmers’ market will come from free-range animals reared on family farms. None of the meat will be mechanically recovered and it will be made to the very highest standards. So, if you really want to enjoy the best bangers during British Sausage Week, you know where to go.

Today’s market is in Victoria Square, Droitwich, from 9am until 2pm. Next Saturday’s market is in High Street, Bromsgrove High Street, from 9am until 5pm.