Social media fuels 'unprecedented' pumpkin interest

A Cheshire farm says finding weekend tickets for their pumpkin festival was "harder than booking Glastonbury"

A farm says "unprecedented" interest in their pumpkins from social media influencers has led to an earlier launch of their festival dedicated to the autumnal delight.

Laura Wheelan, from Kenyon Hall Farm in Warrington, Cheshire said they were getting feedback that finding peak weekend tickets for their pumpkin festival, which runs until 31 October, was "harder than booking Glastonbury".

The farm has been growing pumpkins for about 40 years but has experienced record interest recently due to social media.

"We get the families who come with the children and wanting the pictures themselves but we get a lot of influencers," Ms Wheelan told BBC North West Tonight.

"That wasn't a thing 10 years ago," she said, adding: "Influencers didn't exist and now they're the ones who are buying the tickets and wanting to come."

Carrie Williamson said the backdrops provided "perfect content"

The farm has grown about 20,000 pumpkins this year from some 70 varieties.

Content creator Carrie Williamson, who came with her daughter, said: "The backdrops you can get are like perfect content and perfect pictures - even not to use on social media but beyond as well.

"A lot of people like having the photos and that content as a memory."

Lexi Callaway, who blogs about her life as a solo mother, added she was taking "loads" of photos.

"I do like taking pictures but we also try to make the focus not just about taking photos.

"Obviously it's the actual experience of being here and being able to pumpkin-pick on such a beautiful day."