THE UK'S biggest pumpkin caused traffic chaos when it fell off its trailer and into a busy road.

The giant gourd, which weighs as much as a Fiat 500, blocked traffic when the trailer it was being transported on tipped over.

The 2,656lbs monster squash (1,205kg), grown by Ian and Stuart Paton from Lymington, was travelling back from being weighed in Berkshire where it was officially confirmed as the UK's heaviest ever.

Twins Ian and Stuart, 61, only missed out on achieving a new world record with the pumpkin by 47lbs.

Thankfully the gourd - which was being moved to Sunnyfields Farm near Southampton for a pumpkin festival - escaped with only minor 'bruising.'

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Pictures from the scene show the 1,000kg monster falling from the trailer and into a roadside hedge just outside the farm it was being delivered to.

As tailbacks formed, the pumpkin had to be recovered from the road using a telehandler machine with straps tied around its base.

Relieved grower Ian Paton said it did not suffer any 'serious damage' despite the incident.

Ian said: "We were moving the pumpkin into a different car park and it was so heavy that the trailer tipped.

"There will have been lots of photos taken I'm sure - it's not very often you see a pumpkin like that.

"I'm sure it’s going to go viral now, but it's all good publicity.

"Luckily the pumpkin wasn't seriously damaged, and no one was hurt - it has got a few bruises but nothing major.

"It will now be going on display at Sunnyfields Farm where everyone can come and take pictures with it."

The twins' pumpkin broke their own previous UK record, being 63lbs heavier than the pumpkin they grew in 2020 that weighed in at 2,593lbs.

They have another huge pumpkin in their vegetable patch which they are hopeful will break the world record that has so far eluded them.

The twins' other 'monster' will be weighed at Sunnyfields Farm next weekend, and they are hoping it can safely transported there without incident.

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