STRANGE vegetables have started appearing in a Waterfoot greengrocers.

Steve's, in Bacup Road, confused customers by selling red spring onions and is now offering a cauliflower with florets that resemble the spines of a dragon - or a swirl of ice-cream on a cone, if you are feeling poetic.

Steve Taylor, 45, who has run the greengrocers for 15 years, said the Romanesco caulies are going down a storm.

He added: "I was asked by a customer if I could get one and managed to buy a box of them from my supplier. Since they appeared in the shop they have been flying off the shelves.

"Some people have even driven past, done a double-take and come back to buy one."

The swirly pale green vegetable originates from Italy, but Steve said they are no longer grown there and this particular batch was grown just outside Ormskirk.

Despite being accused of painting the spring onions red, the adventurous greengrocer thinks consumers in Waterfoot are becoming a bit more adventurous, and he now has his eye on red and white striped swedes.