Teacher Graham Frost said he was 'gobsmacked' to become the first male chairman of Bearsted Country Market.

Mr Frost, 62, has been helping at the weekly Saturday market for years but never expected to become chairman.

Most of the jobs - baking cakes, making jam, marmalade, savoury dishes and crafts - are done by women.

Mr Frost said the market had at least one male producer and he would like to see more men becoming involved.

“I was gobsmacked,” he said, after being asked to take over from long-standing chairman Jean Spendley, but underlined his determination to help the market flourish.

He said: “Basically, what we need are more producers of food, crafts and plants.

"We would also like more customers and, if they can’t make it at 10am when the market opens, at least they can order things and collect them up to 11am.”

Country Markets were founded 30 years ago as an offshoot of the Women’s Institute but for more than 10 years have been a separate enterprise.

The market is held in the WI Hall at Bearsted, near Maidstone, every Saturday, 10am-11am.

“It’s all home-produced, wholesome, good, real home-baked food,” he said.