THE early summer sun followed by gentle rains then warm autumn sunshine to make them bright and orange has provided Hallwood Farm with a bumper harvest of pumpkins this year.

Richard Kelsey, of Hallwood Farm, has all his 690 pumpkins safely gathered in to his barn at Petrockstowe.

Apart from the obvious use for carving traditional Hallowe'en lanterns, they are lovely to eat, great roasted and make a delicious soup. Hallwood veg box customers will all receive one each in their boxes along with a recipe leaflet. A selection of sizes will be available from the farm's new farm shop at Red Lion Yard, Okehampton.

To add to the fun the farm is holding a 'pumpkin carving workshop' in Red Lion Yard on Saturday October 30 between 10am and 2pm.

Young and old alike can come along, buy a pumpkin and help will be on hand to give tips on how to carve it.