Farm shop baker Roxy Orton has swapped her baking trays for seed ones to grow a huge pumpkin to fundraise for an equine charity.

Roxy, from Wiveliscombe, grew the fruit on her family’s allotment and it is on show until today (Friday, October 29) at Rumwell Farm Shop for visitors to guess its weight in return for a donation to the Conquest Centre.

Farm shop joint owner Anne Mitchell said: "It was a wonderful idea of Roxy’s to bring the pumpkin in for us to display for visitors to see in the run up to Hallowe’en.

"We’re asking anyone who wishes to have a guess at the weight of the fruit to make a 50p cash donation at our tills, which we’ll pass on to our charity of the year, Conquest Centre.

"We’re hoping this year to raise lots of money for the organisation, which provides therapeutic support to people with physical and behavioural or emotional needs, involving equines, small animals and the environment."

The nearest guesser will win 12 doughnuts made by Roxy and the Rumwell Farm Shop Bakery team.

Roxy said: "My family and I have a few allotments and we’re really keen gardeners and enjoy growing our own fruit and veg. We grow so much that I often bring in our surplus produce for the farm shop to sell. For example, customers will have eaten some of our runner beans this summer. Our produce is seasonal, fresh and local. There are very few food miles involved.

"We like to grow things organically. With the pumpkin we gave it plenty of water and lots of encouragement. Like all plants, it benefited from our TLC, and we often chatted to it as it grew. We used our own fertiliser too but I can’t reveal our secret recipe!"

Once a winner has been drawn, the pumpkin will be carved by the farm shop team. It will be displayed in the cafe for its Hallowe’en Tea on Sunday, October 31.

Its flesh will also be used to make soup which will be given to Open Door, a day centre for Taunton’s homeless community.

Baker and keen gardener Roxy Orton with her giant, fundraising pumpkin at Rumwell Farm Shop.