Entries received so far for the 2006 World Scotch Pie Championship suggest the event could be a record breaker, beating the 350 entries received last year.

The awards ceremony will be held during Scotch Pie Week, which runs from 25 November to 2 December. Bakers throughout Scotland are being asked to raise funds for The Scottish Society for Autism, a charity supported by TV personalities Lorraine Kelly and Richard Park.

Piemen are being encouraged to organise in-store competitions, create exciting window displays and involve local schools.

Alan Stuart, the Buckhaven-based founder and organiser of the event, said: "The Scotch pie is Scotland’s original takeaway and is produced with the finest Scotch beef and lamb."