Two twin brothers have smashed a British record after growing a monster pumpkin that weighs more than a tonne and is so big that it needs a crane to lift it onto scales at a county show.
Ian and Stuart Paton, 63, spent three hours a day for three months cultivating the gigantic 188 stone (1198.2kg) squash in Lymington, Hampshire.
They then ‘very carefully’ drove four-and-a-half hours to the Malvern Autumn Show today in a bid for it to be crowned the ‘world’s heaviest pumpkin’.
Unfortunately, they fell just short of the world record 1,247kg but were delighted to set a new British record with their creation which weighs the same as a small car.
Green-fingered Ian said: ‘It has taken a lot of hard work and dedication.
Ian Paton pictured with his gigantic pumpkin that he grew along with his twin brother for the show
The gigantic 188 stone (1198.2kg) squash needs a cran in order to lift it because it’s so heavy
The gigantic pumpkin is pictured at the Malvern Autumn Show in which thousands of people are expected to attend
A man holds a giant onion ahead of the UK national giant vegetables championship, during the Malvern Autumn Show
A competitor holds up an enormous radish he entered ahead of the giant vegetables championship
Two competitors pose with giant marrow they entered into the Malvern Autumn Show
A man carries a giant vegetable into the Three Counties Showground in Malvern for the show
A competitor transports celery ahead of the UK national giant vegetables championship
‘Me and my twin brother work as a team and we spent three hours a day over three months tending to it each day.
‘We put the seeds down in April and then pollinate in June, they are quite fast growing and this one is 113 days old.
‘We drove it up in the back of a large Volvo very carefully, staying at around 50mph. You get some strange looks from other drivers that’s for sure.
‘Some people pull over further up the road and then follow you again just to get another look. They shout ‘is that real?’ and we shout back’ yep’.
‘Nobody is going to be heavier than this today, I’m very confident of that. The sponsors of the show are going to carve it up at the end.
‘They have a professional pumpkin carver. I’ve been told what they are going to turn it into but I’m sworn to secrecy. But it’s hilarious.’
Thousands of people are expected to flock to the Worcestershire town to catch a glimpse of some gigantic greens from tomorrow and over the weekend.
Expert growers have already been showing off their prized fruit and vegetables as judging for the UK Giant Vegetables Championships began.