WHEN Iain Shield planted a pumpkin seed a few months ago, he expected a football-sized fruit.

But the first-time grower followed the directions to the letter and has ended up with a two-and-a-half-foot round pumpkin called an Atlantic Giant.

Now he is asking people to pay to guess its weight – with all proceeds going to charity Macmillan Cancer Support.

Mr Shield, 34, who is head of design and marketing at health economics consultancy Abacus International, in Sheep Street, Bicester, said: “I looked at it and thought wow it’s enormous.”

Mr Shield, who lives in Rose Avenue, Abingdon, needed the help of a friend to life it to weigh.

The pumpkin will be on display outside Eldridge Growers in Sheep Street, Bicester.