A VAST range of natural health products is being exported from Ashford - but not one of them can be bought here.

Natural Distribution, France's top seller of food supplements and natural health products has its base this side of the Channel on the Willesborough industrial park in Kennington Road, Ashford.

The reasons why the company left sunny Provence for Kent are threefold as its export assistant Nadège Verbrouck, explained.

French laws governing the sale of natural health products were more restrictive than those in Britain, social costs were higher and the tax regime was harsher.

France could not place restrictions on products imported from another European Union country, she said.

Company accountant Carmen Taylor said: "Small businesses in France are being crippled by high social costs. They can't afford to employ people because of these costs. That's why unemployment is so high there.

"We couldn't have expanded there as we are doing here," she said.

Ashford was chosen because of its excellent communication links with the Continent and the help and encouragement of Ashford's borough council and especially of its chamber of trade and industry.

The move to Ashford from Aix le Provence was made four years ago and since then Natural Distribution has opened up new markets across Europe and in Africa. This expansion has led to the company doubling its number of units at Willesborough to four.

On Thursday Mayor of Ashford Mike Claughton and business representatives were invited to a reception to celebrate the move into the new units.

The Mayor was welcomed by managing director Valerie Hassett, the major shareholder in the family-owned business.