Because Tom Hancock loved growing things, his mum Heather decided to sow sunflower seeds and sell the young plants to visitors at Welshampton Plant Fair in May.

The winner of the tallest sunflower in September would win a specially commissioned, two metre high sunflower garden sculpture made and donated by Clive Knowles, managing director of British Ironwork Centre, Oswestry.

Growers regularly reported back the height of their plants to the event organisers this summer and the winners with a sunflower 12 feet tall were Stuart and Sharon Newall of Higher Heath, near Whitchurch.

“We had a number of entries around the nine feet and 10 feet mark, but the winner, at 12 feet, was head and shoulders above the rest,” said Welshampton Plant Fair co-ordinator Gillian Eleftheriou. “We are most grateful to Clive for his support and encouragement.”

This year’s Welshampton Plant Fair raised a record £7,759.88, taking the amount given to charity over the past nine years to in excess of £40,000. The money is split equally between Shropshire Macmillan Cancer Support and St Michael and All Angels Church, Welshampton.