A trader fell victim to a con after being tricked into thinking he had scooped a foodie accolade for Kent’s best sausage roll.

Ashley Green, owner of Gourmet Street Food Company in Fremlin Walk, Maidstone, was approached by a man claiming to be from Produced in Kent, which runs the Taste of Kent awards.

He asked for £50 to be entered into a competition to find the county’s best sausage roll and was told mystery shoppers would visit to taste-test his products.

He was delighted to be told he had won, and was all smiles on Tuesday when Fremlin Walk announced the good news in a press release.

But after the Kent Messenger approached the organiser we discovered Mr Green, who runs the distinctive Fremlin Tram, had been a victim of fraud.

Police are now investigating whether someone used the Produced in Kent name and branding fraudulently for financial gain and whether the man who approached Mr Green has any links to the organisation.

"We were frustrated when we heard the news. It was never our intention to mislead any of our customers" - Ashley Green

The owner of the van, based in Fremlin Walk for five years, said: “We were frustrated when we heard the news. It was never our intention to mislead any of our customers.

“I spent several hundred pounds getting the award printed on signs and menus.”

On finding out he was at the centre of a scam he immediately took down the signs from his stall and from his Facebook page.

The Taste of Kent Awards is an annual event recognising the hard work of local food producers.

Organisers handed out 22 awards at this year’s ceremony in March and a spokesman said: “We would urge any other businesses who may have been approached to get in contact with us so we can refer it to the appropriate authority.”

It thanked Mr Green for removing references to the organisation from his Facebook page and the KM for highlighting the situation.

Mr Green added: “We use the highest quality ingredients and all of our rolls are made on site every day. We pride ourselves on satisfying shoppers’ tastebuds.”

Fremlin Walk manager Lloyd Wright said: “We were delighted when we heard Ashley had won, although, having tasted his products, we were not surprised.

“We are disappointed to find out the award wasn’t what we initially thought it to be.”

Nominations for next year’s Taste of Kent Awards open next month and Mr Green plans to enter.