AN Ayrshire bakers is at the centre of a row after using Buckfast tonic wine in their latest pie creation.

The Buckfast Pie went on sale at the 10 shops run by Brownings the Bakers today.

The Kilmarnock-based firm produce the award winning Killie Pie, sold at Kilmarnock Football Club's home games and in their shops.

But their latest pie, which they say it being sold for one day only "by popular demand", is proving more controversial.

Posters went up in their shops this week advertising the pies and even mimmicking their famous Killie Pie slogan to: "Say Aye to a Buckie Pie".

The long established bakers, based at Bonnyton Industrial Estate in Kilmarnock, refused to discuss their Buckfast Pie yesterday.

One long-standing Browings customer in Stewarton said: "The bakers is used by lots of schoolkids at lunchtime who will no doubt see this as a huge joke, but I think it is completely irresponsible."

Labour list MSP Graeme Pearson, a former senior police officer, also believes the "novelty" pie is no joking matter, and won't help in the fight against Scotland's heavy drinking culture.

Mr Pearson, former head of the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency, said: "We really need to change the drink culture in Scotland, and I don't think a Buckfast pie is going to help that.

"Ultimately alcohol is a poison and we need to remember that when we challenge the booze culture."

Many supermarkets, and local shops, in Glasgow and the West of Scotland, refuse to stock the controversial tonic wine.

The monks of Buckfast Abbey in Devon – who make the tonic wine – declined to comment.

But, Jim Wilson, spokesman for J Chandler & Co, the distributors of Buckfast, said: "When you cook Buckfast with meat, the alcohol is cooked out.

"We are quite happy for Buckfast to be used as an ingredient, as long as it is used responsibly."

Last year, ice cream made from the tonic wine proved a hit in Edinburgh.

rebecca.gray@ heraldandtimes.co.uk

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