Green-fingered pupils at Broad Oak Primary School, in Pope Lane, Penwortham, overcame competition from 32 other schools across the region, in a search for the finest primary school harvest.

It means Broadoak Primary have reached the Booths Grow Your Own gardening national final.

The competition invited youngsters to grow a range of vegetables to present to a panel of judges, including Eric Robson, a presenter on the Radio 4 show Gardener's Question Time.

Jane Taylor, a teaching assistant, has led the gardening project. The team were awarded a cheque for £1,500 at Booths headquarters in Preston.

She said: "It is the 25th anniversary of the school and this gives us a great boost to keep growing in the future.

"All pupils get the opportunity to take part, it's been good. We started three years ago and it has got better.

"Last year we grew five types of vegetables and made five-a-day soup.

"One third of children do not have growing space at home and they have really taken to this.

"We are going to spend the money on an outdoor potting shed, a watering system and improvements to our wildlife garden."

Pupil Tom Sandells, 11, said: "We worked so hard, and this is the icing on the cake.

"It taught everybody about responsibility."

Pupil Imogen Turner, eight, said: "I like helping the younger ones. I was really excited to win.

"I am the only one in my family who gardens."

Indiga-Rose Naylor, 10, said: "Everybody had a go and we all worked together."

Judging panel member Eric Robson said: "It was very tough and it was not a unanimous decision – the standard was very high.

"My personal point of view is that what put them out ahead was the quality of their produce – their cauliflower was very good."

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