A Watton butcher is swapping his meat cleaver for a shotgun as he prepares to represent his country in clay pigeon shooting.Steven Smith, of Steven Smith Quality Meats, who belongs to Lakenheath Gun Club, is celebrating after being picked for this year's England Skeet Team.

A Watton butcher is swapping his meat cleaver for a shotgun as he prepares to represent his country in clay pigeon shooting.

Steven Smith, of Steven Smith Quality Meats, who belongs to Lakenheath Gun Club, is celebrating after being picked for this year's England Skeet Team.

Skeet is a type of clay pigeon shooting and Smith is now looking forward to representing England in the discipline in the Home Internationals in County Donegal, Ireland, next month.

“I am absolutely overjoyed. It is something I have really wanted and been aiming for since I started shooting.

“It is a great honour and it will be wonderful to represent the country,” said 49-year-old Smith, who began clay pigeon shooting in 2003.

“I would really like to thank my wife Sheila. Without her involvement I would not have got this far.

“She is my trainer and watches me to make sure I am doing things right.”

Smith, who has three sons, found out he had been picked for the England team after being one of the top ten scorers in a selection process where competitors had to shoot two lots of 200 targets.

Smith has represented Norfolk many times in his sport.

He was the English skeet doubles champion in 2005 and is currently the East Midlands champion.