What a whopper!

A rare plant has taken root in the garden of a Southwick man and is 18 feet tall and still growing.

Dennis Bryant, of Roman Road, said the plant was an Echium Pinana, which is extremely rare in Sussex and usually found in Devon or Cornwall.

Mr Bryant said it had been growing in his garden since last spring after he ordered a packet of grass seed from a company in Cornwall for a friend.

He planted some of the seeds in his own garden and was astonished to see it come through the ground.

Mr Bryant said its bark it almost furry to touch and the flowers are very popular with bees.