A monster pumpkin weighing more than a ton has broken a British record. It was so big that a telehandler was needed to winch it onto scales at a country show.

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 (Thursday) in a bid to crown it the “world’s heaviest pumpkin.”

Unfortunately, they fell just short of the world record of 1,247kg but were delighted to set a new British record with their creation, weighing 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.

“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 Worcestershire town to catch a glimpse of some gigantic greens from tomorrow (Fri) and over the weekend.

Expert growers have already been showing off their prized fruits and vegetables as judging for the UK Giant Vegetables Championships began.

Produced in association with SWNS Talker