A GIANT vegetable grown by a green-fingered schoolboy was left unscathed after burglars raided his parents' garage.

Tom Davies, of Bayton Road, Mamble, was relieved his 55lbs pumpkin remained intact when it was tipped out of a wheelbarrow during the theft of the family lawnmower.

The 10-year-old's giant pumpkin was the result of a challenge set by friend and village horticultural expert Harry Jenkins.

Harry set the youngster the task to grow a pumpkin from one of his seedlings during the summer. Tom Davies holds his prize pumpkin with village gardening expert Harry Jenkins.

But much to everyone's surprise, the small plant produced a giant pumpkin for the Bayton Primary School pupil - beating Mr Jenkins' best effort by 20lbs.

Tom, now in Year Six, said: "I was surprised it grew like that. I did not think it would be that big.

"I was worried the pumpkin would be ruined when we had the burglary a few weeks ago, but it's OK now."

He added: "I am going to cut it for Halloween and make a face from it."

His 48-year-old mum Diane said: "I was astonished with the size of it really. I think that he's done very well."