Ian Paton from Lymington Hampshire with his 1198.2kg British Record for heaviest pumpkin. (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)
Twin brothers Ian and Stuart Paton, 63, spent three hours a day for three months cultivating the gigantic 188 stone (1198.2kg) squash in Lymington Hamps.
They then “very carefully” drove four-and-a-half hours to the Malvern Autumn Show today (Thurs) 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.
“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.
The massive pumpkin (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)
“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 today 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.