LANCASHIRE dialect poet Jim Atherton, standing 5ft6in, is dwarfed by his 6ft 6in high water lilies.

Jim, 77, of Waterfield Avenue, Darwen, has no idea why it has grown so unusually tall this year -- although he did put some different concentrated manure on this year.

He said: "In the first year they were about 2ft tall, last year there were 4ft and now 6ft6in. I dread to think how tall they will be next year.

"People have walked past the front garden and stop and looked in amazement. I am very bemused, and I suppose a little proud of them."

Jim's concern now is pruning the flowers back.

He added: "I may have to stand on a box! I wouldn't mind, but I didn't even pay for these flowers -- I got them free in a newspaper.

"They have just gone mad."

Jim started writing poems and reading them to his wife, Edna, and neighbours.

Today he sells illustrated leaflets of his 400 poems and donates all the proceeds to charities ranging from Guide Dogs for the Blind to Derian House Children's Hospice, Chorley.

Pictured (right) Jim shows off the giant lilies outside his house in Darwen.