SPROUTS have received a lot of bad press over the years, but this Christmas a local farm is hoping to usher in the winds of change for the humble vegetable.

Richard and Ruth Kelsey, of Hallwood Farm, said: 'We've ditched the dry old school dinner sprout and this year have over 13,000 stems of delicious, sweet and tender new varieties of sprouts.

The farmers are looking forward to a bumper year for the vegetable and are encouraging everyone to forget being force-fed over cooked and bitter sprouts, and give the vegetable another chance.