COULD this be the tallest sunflower grown in the Bradford district this summer?

Peter Fox and his granddaughter Norah, 11, were amazed to see one of this year's crop bloom into a 10ft 4in plant outside his home in Baildon.

Mr Fox, 76, who only grows sunflowers every three to four years, has been growing the sunny yellow flowers since he first move to Baildon from Bradford in 1968.

He said: "I don't talk to them like Prince Charles. I just leave them to grow. Nature does it."

There were no secrets or special tips, he added, just a sunny south-eastern garden with a bit of plant food.

Norah, who visited her grandad from Golcar, Huddersfield, was so astounded by the size of their towering sunflower, that she suggested he contact the Telegraph & Argus to find out if anyone else's blooms in Bradford can compare.

According to Guinness World Records, the tallest sunflower was recorded in Germany last year at a height of 30ft 1in.

Not one for the record books, but perhaps the most unusual location for a sunflower, is one growing out of a soil stack about 15ft off the ground at a pub in Sandy Lane, Bradford.

Stephen Gothard of The Victoria Hotel, contacted the T&A, to say his sunflower had been growing straight up until around two weeks ago when the wind bent the stalk. Despite this it continued to grow and has now flowered.