Cathie Landeryou was amazed last week to discover that the huge 14 foot tree in her garden had started to produce bananas for the first time.

A shocked Mrs Landeryou initially had no idea what was growing on the giant tree.

She said: "When the first bunch appeared, I wasn't sure what they were. They looked a bit like very small like rugby balls, about the size of someone's finger but fatter.

"Last week I went out to show my neighbour and when we went round the back I was so shocked – there was another bunch."

During the winter the couple, of Princess Anne Road, Rudgewick, cut back their treasured tree and wrap it up in bubble wrap for protection, which may be the secret to why it grows so quickly in the summer.

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