Two twin brothers have broken a British record after growing a monster pumpkin that weighs more than a tonne and is so big it requires a crane to lift it onto a scale at a county fair.
Ian and Stuart Paton, 63, spent three hours a day for three months growing the gigantic 188 stone (1,198.2kg) pumpkin in Lymington, Hampshire.
They then “very carefully” drove four and a half hours to the Malvern Autumn Show today in a bid to be crowned the “world’s heaviest pumpkin”.
Sadly they fell short of the world record of 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’s taken a lot of hard work and dedication.
Ian Paton pictured with his gigantic pumpkin which he grew with his twin brother for the show.
The gigantic 188 stone (1,198.2kg) pumpkin needs a crane to lift it because it is so heavy.
The giant pumpkin appears at Malvern’s autumn exhibition, which is expected to be attended by thousands.
A man holds a giant onion before the UK National Giant Vegetable Championships, during the Malvern Autumn Show.
A competitor holds a huge radish that he entered before the giant vegetable championship.
Two competitors pose with the giant pith they entered at the Malvern Autumn Show
A man carries a giant vegetable to the Three Counties Showground in Malvern for the show.
A competitor carries celery before the UK National Giant Vegetable Championships.
‘My twin brother and I worked as a team and spent three hours a day for three months caring for him every day.
‘We place the seeds in April and then pollinate them in June; They grow quite quickly and this one is 113 days old.
‘We drove it in the back of a large Volvo very carefully, staying at around 50mph. You’ll get some strange looks from other drivers, that’s for sure.
‘Some people stop further down the road and then follow you again just to have another look. They shout ‘is that real?’ and we shouted ‘yes’.
“No one is going to weigh more than this today, I’m very sure of that.” The sponsors of the show will distribute it to you at the end.
‘They have a professional pumpkin carver. They’ve told me what they’re 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 giant vegetables starting tomorrow and over the weekend.
Expert growers have already been showing off their prized fruit and vegetables as judging for the UK Giant Vegetable Championship began.
