AS commentator for the sheep championships, retired Ashford auctioneer John Martin took every opportunity of trying to convince the public that there is no finer quality than British lamb.

Flockmasters surrounded the ring with VIPs studying the finer points of the entries and chief steward Peter Mummery from Dover was in deep debate with Tory agriculture spokesperson Baroness Byford.

Asked the situation in the sheep sector, he admitted it was improving but warned it would never return to its best days.

Kent is still very much a sheep county and a group producing the county's own breed of Romney's has launched a new initiative to provide local lamb to local residents.

The Romney, or Kent, produces succulent tasty meat with natural marbling that has been valued by butchers since the 17th century.

Dedicated producers from the Romney Sheep Society have combined to market their own Romney Quality Lamb, reared in the Garden of England and the salt marshes that surround it.

The partners are George and Jane Horne from Westwell, Hugh and Pauline Skinner of Sissinghurst, Graham Palmer from Smarden, Julie Murray from Otterden and Vanessa MacDonald from Lower Hardres.

Between them they have probably the finest flocks in Britain are they are now offering prime meat, butchered to requirements in Smarden by David Luckhurst, direct to the housewife.

Mr Horne said: "We offer a quality produce, kept to the highest welfare standards with complete traceability, direct to the door."

Full details are available from Mrs Horne on 01233 622090.

Another bonus from the traditional breed is the quality of the coats produced and Horne & Son also took the Romney Wool fleece championship.