Prize pumpkin 'sold by mistake'

A wheelbarrow was used to take the pumpkin to the store

A monster-sized pumpkin which was being used for a guess-the-weight competition has been sold by accident from a Somerset supermarket.

The pumpkin had been grown by Les Chivers, 62, a worker at the store in Midsomer Norton, and was being used to raise money for charity.

But after he clocked off and went home, a colleague sold the pumpkin for £2.78.

Mr Chivers is now appealing for its return - though he fears it may have already been used in a pumpkin pie.

'Do Not Remove'

Its weight is a closely-guarded secret - but we think it would have taken two people to lift it Tesco spokesman

Les said he had nurtured the giant pumpkin from seed and brought it to Tescos in Midsomer Norton by wheelbarrow after his boss thought it a good idea to raise money for the local branch of Help the Aged.

The pumpkin had been given a prominent place in the store's produce department and a big 'Do Not Remove' label had been stuck on it.

Mr Chivers explained: "I'm not going to blame anyone for this. What I want is the return of my lovely pumpkin and the chance to do a good deed for charity.

"We're happy to give the lucky customer who bought it their money back and another pumpkin. I can only pray that it hasn't already been turned into pumpkin pie."

A Tesco spokesman said Mr Chivers was "distraught" over the pumpkin's sale and hoped the customer would return it to the store so they could continue their fundraising work:

"We don't know how how it came to be sold. Although the weight is a closely-guarded secret - it would have taken two people to lift it."