WHEN John Sifford failed to hit the weigh-in jackpot with his outsize onion growing, a friend gave him some seeds with the simple message - try these.

He did, and now Mr Sifford has broken the world record for growing the heaviest onion.

The 66-year-old retired engineering worker saw his onion weigh in at 16lb 8.5oz at the heaviest onion contest at Harrogate's Autumn Flower Show, which finishes its three-day run tomorrow.

Not only did Mr Sifford win first prize of £500 but he also picked up an additional £1,000 bonus for being a world record breaker.

Asked how he would reward his seed donor, Mr Sifford said he had not yet decided but wanted to include him in the celebrations.

Mr Sifford has now issued a warning to North-East growers to stand back when he tables another whopper at the forthcoming Ashington Show, in Northumberland.

The world record has stood since 1995 when Mel Ednie from Fife saw his onion tip the scales at 15lb 15oz.

Mr Sifford, 66, from Bromsley, near Halesowen, West Midlands, said: "I knew it was going to be a whopper. It's the black country soil, those seeds given to me and plenty of dried blood that did it."

He added: "I can't wait for the Ashington Show because I'm pretty sure I can do well again," he said, pledging to be back again next year at the Harrogate contest.

The announcement was greeted by a cheering crowd, but the world-class success sparked an unexpected rumpus at a nearby plant stall where Mr Sifford celebrated his success for the media.

The stallholder lodged a complaint to show officials that his business had been affected by spectators crowding his stall out from potential customers. But those cheering on the world champion said the celebrations had lasted only ten minutes.