TWIN brothers from Hampshire have smashed a record for growing Britain's biggest pumpkin.

Ian and Stuart Paton's giant vegetable weighed in at 1,124lb, beating the previous record of 1,048lb set last year.

It took three months to grow and had to be lifted on to scales at Romsey's Annual Pumpkin Show, using a winch and supportive scaffolding.

The pumpkin was weighed with official scales in front of witnesses at the show which took place at the Bear and Ragged Staff pub in Stonymarsh.

Ian Paton, 45, who runs the Pinetops nursery in Pennington, Lymington, now has his sights set on the world record, which was set at 1,502lb in the US on the same day that his pumpkin claimed the British record.

He said: "It's nice to have the record back because we had it a couple of years ago with a pumpkin weighing 819lb.

"It was great to have grown two pumpkins that weighed more than 1,000lb - the other one weighed 1,002lb.

"We are now going to try to grow another pumpkin to beat the European and world records this time next year."

The twins are planning to display the huge vegetables at another annual pumpkin show at the Royal Victoria Country Park in Netley Abbey on Saturday to raise money for the Jubilee Sailing Trust, which offers adventure sailing holidays to able-bodied and disabled people.

The brothers also hold the British record for the largest gourd - a pumpkin-like vegetable - and believe it may be the largest in Europe as well.

To establish a British record, pumpkin growers must have their vegetable weighed and photographed in front of witnesses at a recognised event.