Leading kitchen garden mail order seedsman DT Brown has announced it will once again be running its National Runner Bean Pub Challenge in the quest for the UK's longest runner bean grown from seed of its Benchmaster variety. 

The competition is open to all pubs and social clubs, who can request a free packet of 50 Benchmaster seeds, offered in the current catalogue for £2.99, to divide between 'regulars' who fancy their chances of winning the £100 first prize.

DT Brown's Tim Jeffries said: "All we ask is that each pub sends us photographic proof of the longest bean grown by one of its customers by September 1, 2015.  We will award £100 worth of our vouchers to the person who grows the longest Benchmaster bean in the country"  

The idea for the Pub Challenge was sparked in 2014 when Cambridgeshire pub landlady Alison Seymour told Tim of her regulars' intention to hold a competition to see who could grow the longest runner bean from the seed she was ordering from DT Brown.

British-bred, red-flowered Benchmaster is an established favourite with exhibitors, capable of producing long, straight pods up to 40cm/16in or longer when expertly grown.  DT Brown is offering a free packet of 50 seeds of Runner Bean Benchmaster to pubs or social clubs which contact the company with a view to running a similar competition.

To request a free packet of runner bean Benchmaster, write to DT Brown, Western Avenue, Matrix Park, Chorley, Lancashire PR7 7NB, telephone 0845 3710532, fax 0845 3710534 or go online www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk giving the name and address of the pub or club and a contact name.