Maltese sausage was among the delicacies savoured by visitors to Tuscany's annual Festa Mondiale Dei Macellai held in aid of the Meyer Children's Hospital in Florence.

The stall mounted by Stella Maris Butcher, of Sliema, was one of 200 other butchers from Italy and across Europe for the event that was organised in Panzano, Chianti by Dario Cecchini in honour of Blessed Tommaso Bellacci, the patron of butchers.

Mark Bezzina, of Stella Maris Butcher, said that Mr Cecchini was planning to move the festival out of Panzano and possible localities included Verona, Malta and Sardinia.

During the event Mr Bezzina prepared typical Maltese sausages, cooked with garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, kunserva and white wine to make a tasty pasta dish.

"This dish went down very well with those who attended. In total we cooked over 35kg of pasta and 10kg of sausages," Mr Bezzina said.

"I was very happy that I attended and represented our shop and also our country in this event, all with the intent of raising money for children in need.

"This experience gives us the opportunity to mature professionally in a way by learning and sharing experiences with other professional butchers from around the world," he said.

The Malta Tourism Authority provided Stella Maris Butcher with literature and posters on Malta in Italian to help foster the island's culture.