THOUSANDS of people with an eye for jaw-droppingly large produce and admiration for remarkable floral arrangements flocked to Malvern Autumn Show at the weekend.

The event, held at the Three Counties Showground, played host to a gardening royalty including much-loved expert Carol Klein and writer, broadcaster and lecturer Jon Wheatley, who is a 22 times medal winner at Chelsea Flower Show.

The event, which celebrates the great British harvest festival, included family entertainment, artisan produce and food.

Annually the event hosts the CANNA UK National Giant Vegetables Championship, and this time a record-breaking number of applicants took part, with 539 entrants- a 50 per cent rise on last year.

Matching last year’s achievement, four world records were smashed. These were in categories; World’s Longest Parsnip, World’s Longest Radish, World’s Heaviest Chilli and World’s Longest Chilli, the latter two were brand-new categories for this year.

Kevin Fortey, of Cwmbran, scooped World’s Heaviest Chilli in the Canna UK Giant Veg Championships, with his pepper weighing 0.348kg.

Mr Fortey, who had 12 exhibits in the show, said: "I think it is quite a good achievement. The world record before this was in America so in effect it (the award) has been brought home."

Winner of the show’s heaviest parsnip David Maund, who had 15 entries in the show, said: "I was quite surprised – coming first. To get a prize, particularly for heaviest in one of the most prestigious shows in the county – probably the most prestigious."

Natalie Davis of The Artisan Flower Co - Flowers From the Farm, based in Hanbury, scooped a silver medal for a design on the theme Flowers from the Farm, which incorporated a tractor.

She said: "We are overwhelmed – this is our first time being judged as Flowers from the Farm.

"We are passionate about British flowers and all these flowers are grown locally."

Floral art judge Pip Bensley said: "We had some amazing exhibits with such a contrast of different styles from the very modern to very traditional. There is something for everyone."

Chefs Selasi Gbormittah, Andi Oliver and Judith Hann headlined the cookery theatre and Gianluca Austin-Rizzo of the Cottage in the Wood Hotel, Malvern, demonstrated his expertise on wines and cocktails.

Visitor Maureen Gough said: "We have been coming from Rugby to the show for quite a long time. I come for the flowers and the displays."

But not everyone was happy, visitor Jenny Savage said: "If it is going to be this commercial why bother to come?"

She added that she was unsure she if she would attend next year.

The event took place this Saturday and Sunday.