IT WAS a far cry from the vision of green loveliness that was stunning Page Three model Jo Guest, wearing just a sprinkling of fresh watercress.

Despite hopes that this year's Mr Watercress competition would see scores of honed hunks of the male equivalent sporting nothing but the vitamin-packed veg - Hampshire women were in for no such luck.

However, Nigel Hall impressed judges with his hat and suit adorned in watercress leaves at the competition, held in Broad Street, Alresford on Sunday.

The 59-year-old Alresford resident may be no equal match for sensational beauty Jo Guest - but he clearly loves his watercress.

He said: "I'm really proud to be Mr Watercress. I do like it very much myself - but you've got to have salt and pepper with it."

Mr Watercress was the finishing touch to National Watercress Week, which came to an end yesterday.

The seven-day event included cookery demonstrations, farm tours and a watercress treasure hunt and trips on the Watercress Line steam train near Winchester.