Banana boost for college garden

Bananas have grown for the first time in the grounds of a Cambridge University college.

Gardeners at Clare College expect their Japanese banana plant to be ripe and ready to pick in about two weeks.

Experts say the UK's climate is usually too cold for banana plants to flourish outside, but the July weather has boosted the tropical plants.

The college's head gardener, Stephen Elstub, said the bumper crop had taken them by surprise.

Mild winter

"Our banana plants have never produced fruit before," Mr Elstub said.

"A child noticed the large coconut-like flower last month and we have been giving it plenty of nutrients ever since to encourage the fruit to develop."

Banana plants are normally brought indoors during the winter. But last winter was mild and gardeners at the college left the plants outside.

They said this could be another reason why the plants are now flourishing.

Bananas are usually found growing in tropical Africa, India and southeast Asia.