GREEN-fingered grandad David Metcalfe has left other growers green with envy at his giant veg.

The 65-year-old, of Hallam Road, Nelson, won the National Leek Championship at Harrogate Autumn Flower Show with the ‘Pendle Improved’ variety he has bred at his Hodge House allotment.

It comes a week after he claimed first prize in the ‘Blanch Leek’ category at the World Leek and Onion Championship, in Maryport, Cumbria.

He also finished the runner-up in the ‘Quality Onion’ section.

David has won a string of other awards over the last 30 years.

The grandad-of-four put his success down to 40 years’ experience and some ‘tricks of the trade’.

He said: “I’m very pleased with the win. I grow most of the vegetables for eating, and leeks and onions for exhibitions.”

He took early retirement from Rolls Royce, Barnoldswick, about 10 years ago and did a Royal Horticultural Society course at Craven College, Skipton, where he learned to create new breeds.

“I try to stick to organic fertiliser to ensure a balanced state,” he said.

David said he first bred a variety of leek he called the ‘Original Pendle’, which he bred with another quality leek to create ‘Pendle Improved.’ He said his vegetables were bred for quality, so he very rarely weighed them, but his onions usually tipped the scales between 5lbs and 6lbs.

At the Harrogate competition, leeks were awarded points for condition, size, uniformity, shape and colour.

But the married dad-of-two said just eating the homegrown produce was reward in itself.

He said: “I’ve just had some at lunch time. I had leeks, runner beans and tomato, with cheese - all grown by myself.

"It was very nice.”