BEEF is gaining on turkey as the top choice for tomorrow's Christmas lunch, according to Worcestershire butchers.

Although turkey is traditionally tops for the British, beef is very much back on the plate following health worries in recent years.

Phil Checketts, joint owner of Checketts' butchers in Ombersley, said that although they had sold out of turkey more than a week ago, he had noticed a definite trend towards beef.

"It's all selling, but we've just been inundated with people asking for sirloin, topside and rib of beef."

But Mr Checketts himself is still opting for turkey on the big day.

Thomas Hackworth, who runs a butcher's in Sidbury, agrees that customers are shunning whole turkeys.

"We're 180 turkeys down on last year. What's been very popular this year is turkey crowns - that's just the whole breast with the wishbone taken out. It's convenient because we can roll them for people, and stuff them.

"But the big trend has been beef. Our sales of Scotch foreribs have been absolutely phenomenal."

Mr Hackworth said that he's turning his back on turkey this year, in favour of beef. "I'll be having an H-bone - it's the butcher's choice. There are only two of them on the whole animal and they're delicious."

Barry Potter, of Potter's Family Butcher's on Astwood Road, said that beef was selling very well. "You can really tell the difference - we hang our beef for weeks, which people can't do at home. Customers are realising that it's worth buying from a butcher rather than a grocer or a supermarket."

The popularity of beef will make this Christmas a happier one for the county's cattle farmers.

But turkey producers have no reason to be worried yet. Ten million turkeys were sold last Christmas, according to the British Turkey Information Service, and turkey crowns are making the bird more convenient for modern families.

Turkey is a relative newcomer to festive dinner tables - until fridges and freezers became affordable in the 1950s, it was considered a luxury.