A GIANT pumpkin is set to ‘squash’ the opposition to be the centrepiece of a hospice fundraising scheme.

The huge fruit, grown by avid gardener Maureen Starks on her allotment in Feniscliffe, Blackburn, will be the subject of a ‘guess the weight’ contest for East Lancashire Hospice.

Maureen, of Beechwood Drive, Feniscowles, spent nine months preparing the soil and growing the prize pumpkin, using a secret formula to get the desired results.

She said: “I’ve attempted to grow big pumpkins before and had some success by feeding them cans of Boddingtons bitter, but this year I used a different formula.

“All I’ll say is, it involved tomato feed.

“I started preparing the soil to grow it in last October as it needs a lot of horse manure.

“I planted three in May and they were the size of golf balls. One split and ruined but this one was a good size. They need a lot of watering and attention but I enjoyed it.

“Obviously I can’t say the weight but the only clue I will give is that it’s difficult for me to pick up on my own.”

Hospice fundraiser Kim Hall said: “We were thrilled when Maureen got in touch to offer the huge pumpkin to help with our fundraising.

“Matalan, in Blackburn town centre, will hold the ‘guess the weight of the pumpkin’ competition in October.

“The winner will receive a Halloween party pack containing all the essentials to hold their own spooky party.

“Once the competition is over, the pumpkin will be carved by hospice patients and transformed into a temporary work of art.”