 Liam and James are first-time entrants to the contest |
Two schoolboys have sown the seeds of envy among green-fingered neighbours by growing a massive pumpkin. The village of Mere Brow in Lancashire holds an annual pumpkin-growing contest every year, with residents taking months to cultivate their fruit.
But veterans could be side-stepped this year by ten-year-old James O' Hanlon and his friend Liam Cupit, 8.
The pumpkin is so big that firefighters have agreed to move it out of the greenhouse for the charity event.
The boys have grown the pumpkin - estimated at about 500lbs - from seed and watched videos on pumpkin-growing to pick up insider tips.
The village has run the good-humoured Mere Brow Giant Pumpkin Competition for ten years. This year's proceeds will go to the North West Air Ambulance fund.
 |  It would be a very big upset if a couple of Johnny-come-lately types walk off with the coveted silverware at their very first attempt  |
Trevor Wilson, organiser, said: "We have tried very hard to encourage more people to get involved in growing giant pumpkins and so it is interesting to note the progress these lads have made." Last year's winner, grown by James Houghton of Scarisbrick, weighed in at 573lb.
James and Liam will find out on 16 October whether their pumpkin is a winner.
Mr Wilson added: "Growing giant pumpkins is a carefully honed craft and can often take many years to perfect the technique.
"It would be a very big upset if a couple of Johnny-come-lately types walk off with the coveted silverware at their very first attempt."
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