A former pasty world champion has tantalised the taste-buds of judges once again - this time with her new vegan variety.

Jill Martin, 69, from Deal returned to the The World Championship Pasty Competition at The Eden Project yesterday where she competed to retain her 2019 title.

But while none of her six entries - which she's branded Kentish Knockers - earned first place overall, the grandmother's Hippy Happy Lip-Smacking Lentils and Some snack was the only vegan variety to be recognised throughout the day.

Gaining bronze in the Open Savoury Professional category, the pasty is made with lentils, garlic, ginger, spices and mushrooms.

The pastry also features different ingredients with eggs and butter replaced with vegetable substitutes and soya milk.

Its new bronze status has seen it quickly climb in popularity with the retired P&O sales manager receiving a hike in orders overnight.

She said: "170 people from around the world entered this amazing competition, many with multiple entries, and my vegan Kentish Knocker was the only vegan winner.

"Veganism is hot news at the moment so many people were putting vegan entries forward. I'm delighted to come out on top.

"Of all the entries, I thought it would be my Right Royal Knocker or chicken roast dinner Knocker that would perhaps win.

"But [my husband] Geoff always said it would be the vegan one, and he was right."

Mrs Martin said her stomach was spinning like a washing machine as the winners were announced in front of 8,000 strong crowd.

She had spent all of Thursday in the kitchen before making the six-hour car journey to Cornwall with the pasties carefully packed in cool boxes with ice packs keeping them under 8C, on Friday.

She was accompanied by husband Geoff, whose father, retired miner Ronald Martin, is behind the name of the delicious parcels.

They are in homage to Kent's miners. The name stems from 'the knocker', the mythical creature who would knock on the mine walls just before cave-ins.

To give thanks for these warnings, and to avoid future peril, miners would cast the last bite of their tasty pasties into the mines for the knockers to enjoy.

It was her Betteshanger Big Breakfast Kentish Knocker, with bacon, sausage and egg, that put her on the map last year.

Winning the title has opened many doors for Mrs Martin who went on to feature on ITV's How to Spend It Well at Christmas - with Phillip Schofield.

She has also attracted media attention from national outlets and been invited into schools to help promote home based cooking among children.

Demand for her Knockers has been so great, she has also had an extra kitchen built in her garden.

She said: "It's been a crazy year. I can't cook them quick enough.

"I've sold them to famous authors, a TV producer, and people from all over the world who have visited me at Deal's Saturday market.

"When people have said, 'Oh it's Cornish pasties!' I say, 'No madam, we're in Kent. It's a Kentish Knocker.'

"The thing about Kentish Knockers if you can put anything in them. They can be quirky and different.

"I want people to come to Kent not only for the lovely scenery and the history but also to enjoy a Kentish Knocker."

Mrs Martin's ultimate dream is for Kent to be recognised for the Kentish Knocker with shops all around the county.

The first one would have to be in Deal, she said.

The passionate cook also has her own homemade takeaway business The Town Kitchen, which launched in February 2016.

Read more: All the latest news from Deal