A WORCESTER business that offers top quality beef to people is hoping to take the lead in another market - making luxury food for canines.

Craig and Marjorie Walsh run Lucies Farm in Colletts Green near Powick, where they raise Highland cattle for a type of meat called Kobe beef.

This involves massaging the cows regularly and feeding them on a diet consisting largely of beer from a Callow End brewery.

And far from going to the dogs, as it were, the business has been really successful.

There is a waiting list of several months for the fillet and sirloin, but other good cuts, such as rump, brisket, and silverside are not wanted. That was when the couple came up with their latest brainwave.

"The beef is expensive, and while the demand is high, because of its price, people only go for the prime cuts," Mr Walsh said. "We are constantly playing catch-up with orders for this and the rest was just being fed to our dogs.

"That was when we came up with the idea of selling luxury dog food. Britain is renowned for pampering its pets and what better way to do this than feeding them quality food?

"All the ingredients come from the farm, right down to the calcium which comes from our eggs."

But this is where the problem occurs. Because the meat doesn't have any preservatives, it is best kept frozen, and that has proved to be a big obstacle when selling it.

"Supermarkets don't have freezers in their pets section and they don't like putting dog food with human food. Also, there is the problem with distribution as trucks need freezers. It's also difficult to find a distributor interested in a product that doesn't have instant demand," Mr Walsh said."But like other dogs foods, it can be ordered directly from us.

"We hope it will appeal to Worcester pet owners who like to pamper their pooches."

More information can be found on www.luciesfarm.co.uk.