WITH Halloween just a week away, a huge pumpkin has appeared in a farm shop near Taunton.

Roxy Orton from Wiveliscombe has grown a gigantic pumpkin on her family's allotment which is on show at Rumwell Farm Shop.

Visitors to the shop can guess the weight of the pumpkin, and all donations are going to the Conquest Centre.

"My family and I have a few allotments and we’re really keen gardeners and enjoy growing our own fruit and veg," said Roxy.

"We grow so much that I often bring in our surplus produce for the farm shop to sell.

"For example, customers will have eaten some of our runner beans this summer. Our produce is seasonal, fresh and local. There are very few food miles involved.

“We like to grow things organically. With the pumpkin we gave it plenty of water and lots of encouragement. Like all plants, it benefitted from our TLC, and we often chatted to it as it grew.

"We used our own fertiliser too, but I can’t reveal our secret recipe!”

Anne Mitchell, joint owner of Rumwell Farm Shop, said it was a 'wonderful' idea to bring the pumpkin in to the shop.

The visitor who makes the closest guess to the actual weight of the pumpkin will win 12 doughnuts, made by Roxy and the Rumwell Farm Shop Bakery team.

“We’re asking anyone who wishes to have a guess at the weight of the fruit to make a 50p cash donation at our tills, which we’ll pass on to our charity of the year, Conquest Centre," Anne added.

The pumpkin will be on display at the farm shop until Friday, October 29.

Once a winner has been decided, the pumpkin will be carved by the team at Rumwell Farm Shop.

It will be displayed in the cafe for its Halloween Tea on October 31.

Its flesh will also be used to make soup that will be donated to Open Door, a day centre for Taunton’s homeless community.

Rumwell Farm Shop, an independent family-run business, is on the A38 between Taunton and Wellington. It sells traditional farm shop produce, including meat, vegetables and more.

Also on-site there is The Rumwell Flower Shed, a Delicatessen, Bakery, Jam Kitchen, Food Hall, Wine Cellar and Gift Room.

For more information visit rumwellfarmshop.com.