A pair of twin brothers have smashed records by proudly growing the UK’s biggest pumpkin which weighed in at a whopping 2,593.7lb.
Ian and Stuart Paton, from Lymington in Hampshire’s New Forest National Park, have beaten the previous UK record of 2,433lb with their pumpkin which weighed in at heavier than two polar bears, but sadly narrowly missed out on the coveted world record by just 31lb.
The pumpkin was officially weighed at Pinetops Nursery in Lymington last weekend.
The brothers have long set their sights on breaking the world record – which is currently held by Belgian Mathias Willemijns with a 2,624lb pumpkin grown in 2016 – but although this year’s whopper didn’t make the cut, it still and smashed their previous UK title of 2,433lb.
During the pumpkin’s three-week growing peak, Ian and Stuart said their “incredible beast” was gaining around 51lb a day and they spent around six hours a day tending to it.
“We needed two forklifts to get it out of the greenhouse so we knew it was going to come close to the record. We didn’t quite break the world record this time around, but we are absolutely sure we will get there one day.
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“It is just a matter of time.
“We started growing pumpkins over 40 years ago, when our biggest weighed 54lbs, and it is absolutely incredible to think that the pumpkins we grow now can gain around that in weight each day.”
Incredibly, this pumpkin is just one of a crop of four 2,000lb-plus whoppers that the brothers have produced this year, with two of them set displayed at a local nursery for visitors to marvel at.
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Ian added: “Once we have grown the pumpkins, they are absolutely no good for eating so we always try to find a way they can be used to raise money for charity. We are not quite sure where the biggest will end up yet but we’re expecting to have lots of interest in the next week or so.”
The brothers also featured live on ITV’s This Morning earlier today to discuss their near world record-breaking attempt and showcase the world’s biggest squash in all its glory.
It is certainly impressive.
This is the UK's biggest pumpkin… but have you grown your own giant veg? Send us your pics and we might feature a few on today's show!
The twins have been growing pumpkins competitively for more than 20 years and have made no secret of their plan to take the world record for the largest ever pumpkin, with Ian saying: “We already have lots of ideas of things we will change and improve for next year,
“We have come so close this time that 2021 really could be the one.”
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Data reveals Manchester hotel prices have ALREADY surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates
Emily Sergeant
Manchester hotel prices have apparently already surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates, some new data has revealed.
Of course, absolutely nothing is set in stone yet and we are still yet to receive any form of announcement.
But with rumours having been swirling for months now that Oasis will be touring again in 2027, and several videos shared on the band’s social media platforms this week also hinting at that, it’s been revealed that searches for ‘when are Oasis tickets going on sale?’ have soared by 5,000% in the last seven days alone.
After recent data has pointed towards soaring searches for tickets, the experts at SeatPick decided to analyse the average cost of accommodation in Manchester on the suspected concert nights in June 2027 to uncover if prices have surged along with the searches.
Data reveals that Manchester hotel prices have already surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates / Credit: The Manc Group | Simon Emmett (Press Picture)
And lo and behold, it appears that they have.
The ticketing platform has revealed that hotel prices have surged by up to 462% during Oasis’ rumoured concert nights in Manchester.
The rumoured weekend date of 19 and 20 June has experienced the most noticeable price surge – with a two-star hotel costing an average of £216 for just one overnight stay.
The data also reveals that the rumoured finale on the 27 June has just a £95 difference between two-star hotels (£200) and five-star hotels (£295).
“Our analysis uncovered an enormous markup for local accommodation on nights that Oasis is rumoured to perform in Manchester,” explained Gilad Zilberman, who is the CEO at ticket platform SeatPick.
“Being aware of these accommodation costs and additional expenses can help fans plan and avoid being caught off guard by inflated prices on concert nights.
“To find the best deals on hotels, concertgoers should scan budget chains in the city or look slightly outside of the centre in hotspots served by local bus routes or regional trains, such as Salford and Trafford.
“Booking early might also be beneficial for fans dedicated to seeing the band perform.
“You can opt for free cancellation options, in case rumoured dates change, or you’re no longer able to attend.”
Featured Image – Point3D (via Unsplash)
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Aldi confirms ‘special’ 62-hour closure of all its 1,000+ stores across UK
Emily Sergeant
Aldi has announced that it’ll, once again, be closing the doors of all of its stores across the UK for 62 hours this year.
Christmas is always known to be one of the busiest periods of the year for the retail industry, and Boxing Day has a reputation for being the ultimate day for shopping deals and discounts in the UK – but this year, just like it has done on several years in the past, Aldi has made the decision to close all of its stores nationwide on this bank holiday.
The supermarket retailer says it wants to thank its colleagues ‘for all their hard work’ throughout the year by giving them some extra time to spend with their families.
This means that all Aldi stores will be closed on both 25 and 26 December.
That’s not all though, as stores will also be closed on New Year’s Day, and will reopen once again on Saturday 2 January 2027.
Aldi has announced a ‘special’ 62-hour closure of all its UK stores / Credit: Aldi UK
Opening hours at different Aldi stores across the UK will vary in the lead-up to Christmas, so it’s important to check the times for your local store, but the retailer has confirmed that most branches will be operating extended hours to ‘ensure customers can stock up ahead of the big day’
In the interim period between Christmas and New Year, stores will reopen as usual on Sunday 27 through to Wednesday 30 December, with reduced hours also likely on Sunday and New Year’s Eve.
Speaking on the decision to shut up shop for a full 62-hour period this festive season, Rachel Geary, who is the Communications Director at Aldi UK, said: “Christmas is a special time for our customers, but it is also one of the busiest periods of the year for our teams.
“Our colleagues work incredibly hard to ensure customers can pick up everything they need ahead of the big day.
“We never take that effort for granted. Closing our stores on Boxing Day is one way of saying thank you and giving colleagues a proper chance to rest, switch off and spend more time with the people closest to them.”
Emily Sergeant -
14th October 2020 
