THIS summer's unusual weather has brought a touch of the tropics to one Worcester garden.

Following a fairly mild winter and some forecasters predicting this could be the hottest summer on record, Sue Leeman's banana trees in her garden at her home in Rogers Hill have grown to more than twice their normal height this summer, standing more than 12 feet tall.

Retired gardener Mrs Leeman said it was especially unusual to see the trees grow so high as her garden is north-facing - far from ideal conditions for growing plants more commonly seen in more tropical climes.

Although the trees have not produced fruit - yet - Mrs Leeman said she was astonished by the massive difference between the height of the trees, which usually grow no more than six feet.

"It's like being in Peru," she said.

"They are absolutely incredible.

"I'm not supposed to be able to grow them at all - I have to build a banana house to protect them in the winter."

The trees are planted in large pots as the soil is not ideal for growing tropical trees.

Mrs Leeman got in touch with the Worcester News to see if anyone in the city had experienced anything similar.

"Nature is like this I suppose," she said.

"Everything is a bit weird this year.

"It would be interesting to find out if anyone else has had the same thing."

Nursery supervisor at Pershore College's Avonbank Nurseries Josh Egan-Wyer said the g

"Even the evenings have been very warm over the past few weeks," he said.

"There hasn't been much of a fluctuation in temperature and it's been really warm - it's been hotter than Barcelona at some times.

"When it has rained it's been like a tropical downpour so it's been ideal growing conditions."

- Has the weather had an unusual impact in your garden? Drop the Worcester News a line on 01905 742244 or email news@worcesternews.co.uk.