Gardener grows world record breaking celeriac

Graham Barratt's record-breaking celeriac is just one of several vegetables he has taken to Malvern Autumn Show

An "enthusiastic amateur" gardener has broken the Guinness World Record for the heaviest celeriac by 10lbs (4.5kg).

Graham Barratt from Gloucester has taken a collection of his produce to Malvern Autumn Show, including a 29lb (13kg) cucumber and a 13lb celeriac.

Mr Barratt received confirmation on Thursday that he had broken the Guinness World Record for heaviest celeriac.

Speaking to BBC Radio Gloucestershire, Mr Barratt said: "It's either weight or length for giant veg, but it's not beauty. Some of them are quite ugly."

Malvern Autumn Show runs until Sunday at the Three Counties Showground.

Mr Barratt, from Abbeydale, said he would have been taking "a lot more" entries but nature had had some "terrible disasters" in store.

"You get there one day, and you find your tomato has gone soft and rotted and it's dripping, so you can't take it," he said.

"I had what I said would be the world record broad bean, but it withered up and shrank before I had the chance to have it measured, or ratified by a horticulturalist."

Celeriac, which belongs to the same plant family as carrots, originated in the Mediterranean

Speaking about the other produce he was taking to the show, Mr Barratt added: "I've got a tomato, not the biggest I've ever grown.

"I did grow my biggest this year but it's in the fridge and it's not lasted, it's just melted.

"A runner bean, long chilli, cucumbers.

"I have quite a big celery, I think it's about 30kg (66lbs)."

Mr Barratt's cucumber narrowly missed out on being a potential record-breaker

Mr Barratt also had a lengthy cucumber to take to the show.

"I weighed it today, and it weighed at 29lbs (13kg). The world record is 30lbs," he said of his cucumber.

"That's just how cruel the business is at times."

Prior to the show, Mr Barratt said he had been "a bit excited" about his celeriac, a "more obscure" vegetable among growers, with marrows and cucumbers those frequently found at such events.

Mr Barratt also grows loofahs, which are used to make the skin-exfoliating shower accessories.