Green-fingered gardener from Newport grows giant cabbage

A Newport pensioner with a talent for growing cabbages the size of washing machines says there is no secret to it except time, patience and a little bit of cash.

75-year-old Ian Neale is no stranger to growing giant vegetables, having won awards including accolades recently for the heaviest carrot and beetroot at the giant vegetable competition at Harrogate Autumn Flower Show in North Yorkshire.

Ian can boast growing a 66.6lb cabbage, a 42.5lb beetroot and a 9.5lb carrot.

The champion veg grower has even been invited to the USA to share his secrets.

But that's not all, Ian's green-fingers have attracted the attention of US rapper Snoop Dogg who contacted him to congratulate him on his prize entries.

He says there is no closely guarded secret ingredient to his success.

'It's just about having the right seed and the right growing conditions and you have to put in plenty of time,' Ian said.

'You do need a little bit of money - for compost and fertiliser - but that's it.'