340-pound pumpkin so huge it needs a forklift to be weighed

By Sophie Watson via SWNS

A monster pumpkin weighing a whopping 343 pounds (24-and-a-half stone) is so huge a forklift truck was needed to winch it onto the scales at a country show.

Carl Lambourne carted his vast vegetable- which weighs the same as a baby elephant - on the back of a trailer to the National Giant Vegetables Championships in Malvern, Worcs, England.

Despite not being a record breaker, the plump pumpkin was one of the stars of the annual show which saw three new world records.

"It fell short of the world record and wasn't a personal best but I was still very pleased with it," said Carl, 52, of Reading.

Participants help to carry a giant marrow. (Joseph Walshe via SWNS)

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"I start with the seeds in April and it's a matter of just tending to it with a lot of care and devotion from there.

"I had to transport it on the back of a trailer so you get some funny looks on the road.

"But I'm used to it as I've been doing it for around 15 years now. I grow all the vegetables that compete in the show and it's a lot of fun to be a part of."

Despite falling short of the record, dramatic pictures shows the monstrous vegetable being lowered into the show tent on a telehandler.

Joe Atherton grew the longest turnip measuring an impressive 4.6m (15ft) beating his own record of 13ft he set in 2019.

"I knew I had beaten my own record but you always breathe a sigh of relief once its transported and official on the judge's table," said Grandad-of-nine Joe, 67, of Mansfield, Notts.

"I now hold the record for all the longest root vegetables in the world which is something I am very proud of.

"The secret to my success is having a lot of dedication and a hard-working and understanding wife.

"I grow them in guttering inside a polytunnel and then when I get them out I have a special table in the garden which is 30ft long.

"My loving wife then painstakingly cleans all the vegetables herself while I go and have a cup of tea.

"I then transport them in a special tray I built myself and then hope for the best at the other end.

"It certainly keeps my family, friends and neighbors well fed for a while afterwards. Nothing goes to waste.

"Growing is in my blood, from starting with my dad to where I am now it’s been such an experience."

Meanwhile Mark Baggs cultivated the heaviest field pumpkin which tipped the scales at 268 lb (121.6kg).

And green-fingered Sebastian Suski proved a winner, being the proud owner of the longest cucumber which measured 44.64 in.

More than 10,000 gardening fans are expected to flock to the annual show which is being held this weekend at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern.