A REVOLUTIONARY new outdoor oven developed in Dorset raised $1m in just a month via crowdfunding.

Roccbox, billed as the world’s first portable and lightweight stone bake oven, was launched by Christchurch businessman Tom Gozney last year, supported by an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign.

And the design proved so popular it raise more than $1 million in just one month - 1001% of its fundraising goal. The first orders are due to be shipped this month.

Fuelled by wood or gas, Roccbox reaches 500 degrees Celsius in 15 minutes and can bake bread and pizzas, caramelise vegetables, roast meat or cook fish.

In an update posted on its website the firm said: "We really couldn’t have imagined the level of interest and support our launch campaign has received over the last four weeks.

"We’ve raised in excess of $1,000,000 in one month and received over 2,000 orders for Roccbox from countries all over the EU, USA & beyond."

Last week's update reads:  "We’ve just tipped into July now which means that it won’t be long before those of you due to receive your Roccbox in the first shipment will start receiving notifications from us, letting you know we’ve been able to allocate your order. Which i’m sure you’ll agree is really exciting."

The company also added reassurance that EU-based buyers need not fear their order would be affected by the Brexit vote last month.

The business grew out of 31-year-old Mr Gozney's firm Gozney Professional Ovens, set up in 2010.

Mr Gozney, who was expelled from several schools, now supplies a variety of prestigious clients including River Cottage, Marriott and Jean-Christophe Novelli.

Among the 2,000 advance orders for Roccbox is entrepreneur Richard Branson.