COUNTESS Bathurst has made a special visit to The Weighbridge Inn in Minchinhampton to try a pie made in her honour.

When Weighbridge head chef, Toby Oliver Refoy heard that the Countess had been given a new role as High Sheriff of Gloucestershire he tweeted her and offered to make the High Sherriff Pie.

He was 'delighted' when she responded.

“I couldn’t believe she got back to me," Toby said. "She said that she loved the idea but only if she could try it.

"She even brought her husband, The Earl Bathurst of the Bathurst Estate in Cirencester.

"The pie is going to have to go on the specials.”

High Sherriff Pie is made with slow braised breast of mallard with wild berries and Dow’s port with a fricassee of wild mushrooms and lemon sorrel on the side.

The Countess was made High Sheriff of Gloucestershire on April 18, an independent, non-political Royal appointment that according to records dates back to 956 in the time of King Edgar.

Formally the principle law enforcement officer in the county, many of the duties have transferred elsewhere.

Countess Bathurst like other recent Sheriff’s has used the position to get involved with various worthwhile charities and raise awareness of issues facing the prison and legal system.

She and Earl Bathurst visited The Weighbridge Inn on Monday, June 20 to try the pie.