Former senior minister Damian Green has rapped out a stark warning to the rural sector, saying "life will not remotely be the same again", once we finally split with the EU.

The Ashford MP and former First Secretary, was keynote speaker at the Rural plc AGM which took place at the Kent Show.

The Rural plc represents "the voice of rural business in Kent" and comprises of senior figures within the industry.

In its annual report for 2017, it revealed turnover in the county was £557million with profit of £87m - a sector which made it bigger than High Street store M&S and on par with supermarket giant J Sainsbury.

And while saying he was a "friend" to farmers, Mr Green warned the much touted trade deals with elsewhere in the world could hurt them.

He said: "A lot of people are talking about trade deals and their vital importance in making this country prosperous in a post-Brexit world; I would issue a word of warning.

"In the end Britain is a largely urban country and most of the industries are urban based. We’re very good at farming but at the end of the day it is a relatively small part of the national economy. Some 80% of the economy is service industries and the things that we want in trade deals will be getting them to accept our insurance or our banking things like that.

"For the rest of the world, a lot of what they want to sell to us is their food. And a lot of that will be cheaper than what we produce because they have worse welfare standards.

"Everyone in rural industry should be slightly beware of the attraction of trade deals.

"While a trade deal with the US would be very good, essentially we want to sell them services and they want to sell us chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-enhanced beef.

" don’t think that will happen as don’t think Parliament or the general public would put up with it, but the voice of farmers should be heard that we should not sacrifice farming on the alter of trade deals.

"Even countries with fantastic food standards like New Zealand [pose a threat]. What does NZ want to sell us? Lamb. If I was a Welsh lamb farmer I would be quite worried about a government wanting a trade deal as what they might give up in the Welsh lamb industry."

But Conservative MP Mr Green stressed it was vital farmers made their voice heard.

He added: "There are challenges as well as opportunities ahead. It’s really important those organisations which are the voice of the farming industry make sure they have a realistic debate.

"Life will not be remotely be the same again. I cannot emphasise that enough the extent of the change farming will have.

"There may be people in this room who put up those Vote Leave posters in your fields. You voted for change and, boy, are you going to get it.

"Farming will need to strengthen its voice and don’t forget although it has friends like me in the Commons, the vast majority of MPs do not represent rural areas.

"But there will be opportunities, there will be chances we can operate which will not only make farming profitable but also more profitable.

"I have every confidence there are people who will take the opportunities to ensure farming in Kent and around the country prospers brilliantly."