A CAERGWRLE man will be waving the north east Wales banner at a giant vegetable championship.

Former council worker Bill Jones is celebrating a decade of growing giant vegetables.

And to mark the anniversary, he will be returning to this year’s Malvern Autumn Show - a harvest festival - on September 28 and 29.

At last year’s show, in Worcestershire, five Guinness World Records were smashed in the Giant Vegetables Championship, including the world’s heaviest celery, which weighed in at a massive 42kg and the world’s heaviest red cabbage which was a whopping 23.7kg.

Bill said: “I’d love to be able to get a card and place again this year, but I must admit it has been a tough year for growing because of the weather, although that’s the same for everyone."

Bill grows his giant veg in his garden and this year he is planning on entering a number of categories, including the heavies onion, heaviest leek, heaviest cucumber, longest runner bean and heaviest marrow.

He started growing giant vegetables in 2009 after previously entering judged quality competitions.

He added: “I prefer the method of judging, there’s just scales and a tape measure.

“I’m delighted to be going back to Malvern Autumn Show this year, what a way to celebrate 10 years.

“I just hope I can have a bit of success.”

The rules are simple; grow the biggest vegetable on show.

The man who makes the decision on who takes home the trophies is competition judge, measurer and weigher, Martyn Davis.

Armed with a tape measure and specialist scales Martyn has been ruling over giant veg since the national championships started at Malvern.

He said: “It’s always a surprise. The veg just gets bigger and bigger.

"We never know what to expect when we come here. Last year we broke a few records and I’d be surprised if a world record is not broken again this year.”

For the first time ever the 2019 show will welcome officials from Guinness World Records and on the Sunday they will verify any records achieved at the show and award the coveted title to growers.