A sunflower maze, thought to be the first in the world, has been created at a Devon adventure park after the weather killed the first crop.

A warren of paths using 250,000 of the spectacular blooms planted over 25,000 square metres has sprung up at Crealy Adventure Park, near Exeter.

Planning for the maze began last year, with sunflower seeds germinated to ensure the blooms would grow in time to open the attraction this year.

But the field had to be replanted after a wet spring followed by a mini-heatwave meant that a hard crust of earth capped the seedlings and killed them.

'Great fun'

The maze was reploughed and new seeds drilled.

Success was finally achieved this month when the sunflowers bloomed.

Some of them have reached seven feet in height.

Park owner, Angela Wright, said: "Apart from being great fun and very innovative, the maze fits our aim of helping children learn about farming techniques.

"Sunflowers are very important in some countries as food crops, and are even used as fuel."