A SIDMOUTH schoolboy s green-fingered summer holiday exploits have resulted in a towering sunflower, more than twice his height.

A SIDMOUTH schoolboy's green-fingered summer holiday exploits have resulted in a towering sunflower, more than twice his height.

Ten year-old Brendan Harrison, has seen a hopeful scattering of seeds in his Fortfield Mews garden turn into a plethora of giant flowers, with the prize pick measuring in at a lofty 12 feet four inches.

Brendan, who goes to St Nicholas C of E Junior School, has been helping his parents landscape their garden over the holidays.

Mum Sasha, 39, said: "We got this free packet of seeds and over the holidays he said he's like to grow one, so we scattered them by the back fence and waited to see if any would materialise.

"Four to five are ten feet tall and one kept going and going and going. My husband had to climb the fence to tie it up."

Five feet tall Brendan, a javelin ace as well as a keen gardener, said he was hopeful sunflowers would grow, but wasn't expecting one to spring up to twice his height.

"I've been watering and nurturing them and it shot up," he said.