AN EIGHT-year-old boy is celebrating after topping the scales for the second successive year in his school's pumpkin growing competition.

Tom Butt had to use a wheelbarrow to move his giant 42kg pumpkin into the main hall at Monmouth School Boys’ Prep for the weigh-in on October 29.

Tom’s pumpkin was the heaviest entry in Year 4 and in the school overall.

He said: “It feels so good to win the competition two times in a row and I might try to grow an even bigger one next year.

“We start growing our pumpkins on January 1, and that’s why we can get them to grow so large.

"We use stuff from the compost heap to feed our pumpkin patch and it seems to work well.”

Aston Singh-Chand, aged 9, from Lydart, secured the Year 5 prize with his 21.8kg pumpkin.

Stirling O’Connor, aged 7, from Welsh Newton, topped the scales in Year 3 with his 28.3kg effort, while 10-year-old James Wardle carried off the Year 6 prize.

The school's headteacher, Neil Shaw, said: “Growing a pumpkin successfully can take months so the boys showed patience, nurturing skills and excellent judgement.

“It’s an annual event at the school and the standard of competition is always high.

“We also award prizes for the best colour pumpkin, perfect shape and the most perfect Cinderella carriage.

“All the boys who took part this year should be very proud of their efforts.”