WEAVERHAM Forest Primary School celebrated a bumper crop of more than 80 kilos of pumpkins with a themed week of activities.

The school’s annual Pumpkin Project, in coordination with Weaver Vale Garden Centre, gives every pupil the chance to plant a pumpkin during the summer and bring it back to school for an autumn weigh-in.

And the heaviest pumpkin-grower is awarded the Weaver Vale Shield of Excellence while tasty pumpkin scones, made by garden centre chefs using the pupil’s squash plants.

This year, pupil Benedict Clenton topped the weigh in charts with his 14 kilo pumpkin, beating off stiff competition from the garden centre’s own crop.

Headteacher Gail Morris said: “We are extremely grateful for the support that we receive from the Weaver Vale Garden Centre.

“Involving professional organisations in the delivery of the curriculum is a great inspiration for our pupils.

“It’s important for children to see that their efforts are successful so to grow a heavier pumpkin than the experts is a real motivator.

“I suspect that the garden centre won’t be so easy to beat next year, so our young gardeners will need to work even harder with their developing gardening skills.”

Staff from the garden centre rewarded the school with a hamper jam-packed with gardening equipment.

Mike Sharples, garden centre manager, added:“ We are delighted at the enthusiasm both the staff and children at Weaverham are showing for gardening and we want to encourage that.”