A music fan is set to open his own store 18 months after striking a chord with customers on his vinyl record market stall.

Alistair Taylor is going from selling his wares at the monthly Rochester City Vintage and Artisan Market to welcoming people at his new Analogue Music store in Rochester High Street.

The 56-year-old is now selling the items from yesteryear up until today after collecting vinyl from the age of seven.

Despite the venture, he still can't explain his fascination for what started as a hobby, but has now turned into a business.

He and partner Hannah Knowlton hope to welcome enthusiasts to the former Platoon Stores site in about a fortnight.

“I got a great response,” the former music company production manager said.

“People kept asking me when I would be coming again.

‘It's not all about grumpy old men with beards. Our customers are of all ages...’

"I've wanted to open a shop for years so when this opportunity arose I took it."

Alistair, who lives in Gravesend, has now whittled down his collection to about 3,000 records because he "doesn't have time to listen to all of them".

He sells genres across the board and specialises in reggae and soul.

A former DJ, he now veers towards buying collections and tends to go for the more "unusual and weird stuff".

He added: "It's not all about grumpy old men with beards. Our customers are of all ages. We have teenagers with their parents sifting through the racks."

Sales can vary from discs in the bargain box selling for £3 to collector items which can cost £100.

When asked why people are so keen on vinyl, he can only put it down to a "ritual process".

"I think it's the going out, hunting for a record, finding it, bringing it home and putting it on your record player," he explains.

Vinyl records became popular from the 1950s and by the 1970s they were the standard format for music recordings until CDS took over.

In recent years vinyl has made a cult-like comeback, many preferring them for their nostalgic appeal - and the trend shows no signs of slowing down.

Alistair said: "They can no longer be considered as a passing fad. These day some of the major artists release music on vinyl.

"I would argue the sound quality is better. "

Also, some of the classic bands, such as The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin have re-released versions of their best-selling albums on vinyl.

Alistair continued: "At the end of the days its popularity is a people-led thing. It's the people who have kept it up there.

"Record companies might not choose to sell vinyl but the people have shown the demand is there."