About six tonnes of the Prim beans have been harvested

Colin Leakey, 71, has spent 25 years working on the new variety, bred from a South American bean.

He has joined forces with Swinderby Organics Farm in Lincolnshire to grow six tonnes of his Prim beans, which he hopes could be on shelves next year.

Mr Leakey said the new beans are more easily digestible, so produce less gas when they are eaten.

"For the past two years we have been experimenting growing these beans organically at the farm," said Mr Leakey, from Lincoln.

It is a niche market bean Daniel Laird, Swinderby Organics

"My hope is some of this produce can actually be in freezer cabinets and stores by maybe Easter next year.

"The commercial factor for us is that they don't contain something called tannins.

"These are found in many beans and can make the food relatively indigestible.

"However, mine contain no tannins, which not only makes them very nice, it makes them more digestible as well."

He added talks were under way with companies to market the bean.

Daniel Laird, of Swinderby Organics, said the variety on which the bean is based had never been grown commercially in this country before.

"It is a niche market bean," he said.

"It has not been particularly difficult growing them but the tough thing has been getting the harvest window right for them."