A FORMER roadie with cult indie band The House of Love has turned his hand to making chilli sauce for a living.

Graham Ford, from Saltburn, East Cleveland, was a roadie and stage manager for the late 1980s and early 1990s band after initially sharing a London squat with its guitarist.

The band played all over Europe and had a string of critically-acclaimed albums.

Mr Ford, who celebrates the first year of his chilli sauce business next weekend at Saltburn Farmers' Market, said: "If you're going to have a misspent youth, make sure it's a good one. We had a great time and I'm still in touch with some of the band even now."

Originally from Edinburgh, Mr Ford moved to Saltburn 19 years ago and went on to graduate from Teesside University with a degree in psychology in 1999 before becoming a psychology teacher at Egglescliffe School, then Middlesbrough College.

But a lifelong passion for food has helped Graham to create his own brand of Chilihound Sauces. He has now become a regular at a number of farmers' markets, including the monthly Saltburn and Stockton Farmers’ Markets.

He is a keen surfer and member of Surfers Against Sewage and said: “I used to take a big pan of my Holy Chipotle sauce along to our beach cleans and people started asking if I could make some for them – so it all grew naturally from there really.

“I’m a big fan of Saltburn Farmers’ Market and, being an adopted Saltburner, I asked if I could join the team.

“I use onions grown here in East Cleveland, and chillies from fellow stallholder Yorkshire Chillies. I also use chocolate from Chocolini’s, a great independent shop in Saltburn, and I’m soon going to be using garlic from Garth Cottage Herbs in North Yorkshire.”

Saltburn Farmer’s Market takes place on Saturday, September 13 between 9am and 3pm outside Saltburn Railway Station near Sainsburys.