South Shields' schoolboy's giant pumpkin cheered poorly children

The first was a picture of a little boy holding a huge pumpkin.

Spotting the photo was Lynn Stokes, who recognised her son Michael – and the giant fruit.

“Michael grew it from seed in his dad’s greenhouse,” explained Mrs Stokes.

“It was huge, and grew to 4st 2lbs in weight.”

Michael, who had just started St Wilfrid’s Comprehensive School at the time, nurtured the plant all by himself.

“He did everything, looking after it every day after school, until it was too big for the greenhouse.”

As a result, Michael’s dad, Harold, rang the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, who said they would like it for the children’s ward for Halloween.

“The problem was getting it there,” said Mrs Stokes.

“So we put it in a wheelbarrow and wheeled it to a Transit van, which took it to the RVI.”

Although the late Mr Stokes was green-fingered, Michael, who is now 33 years-old and works offshore, apparently was not.

Nevertheless, it didn’t stop him producing a whopper.