Giant leeks in Northumberland are biggest in the world

A 70-year-old Northumberland gardener has broken the record for owning the world's biggest leeks.

North Broomhill pensioner Geoff Moscrop produced a record-breaking three pot leek measuring 572 cubic inches, which comes in at 40 inches bigger than the previous record.

The previous record had been held for 12 years.

Geoff's prize-winning leeks were exhibited at the John Smith World Leek and Onion Show at the weekend at the Sports Social Club in Blyth.

The show was open to growers of all levels from professionals to amateurs. On display were freshly dug onions and three pot leeks, the category in which Geoff came out on top.

The record breaker was produced from a new strain of leek and was planted on 25th September 2013.

The gardener carefully nurtured his product for almost a year before it was taken to the club to be judged.

Geoff, who has been growing leeks since 1982, puts his success down to a "gut feeling" for how much the new strain needed to be watered each week.

He added that this is where competing gardeners can fall down.

Geoff said that the prize vegetable needed to be watered every three days and checked for insects and slugs. It even needed attention from others when the 70-year-old went on holiday.