A GREEN-FINGERED young gardener aged just eight is the mastermind behind some huge pumpkins which he plans to carve up to win first prize at his school Halloween disco.

Lucas Brown, of Newmills, loves growing his own vegetables and for three years in a row has been the envy of the village with his huge pumpkins, but these are the biggest and best ones yet.

When a neighbour in the village proposed a competition, Lucas immediately rose to the challenge and the Torryburn Primary pupil was not afraid to say just what he thought of his competitors.

“I definitely won, hers were like tennis balls!” he said, proudly. “I’m going to use the big one at the pumpkin carving competition at the school disco and I’m hopefully going to win there too.” Torryburn Primary School is holding its Halloween disco today (Friday), and the pumpkin carving competition is the prize that has eluded Lucas so far. Despite a great effort in previous years where he turned a still-green pumpkin into Shrek, he’s never managed to win first prize.

However he is confident of changing that this year, and plans to carve his pumpkin into a set of tragedy and comedy masks.

Mum Donna thinks he’s in with a chance, especially with his “ginormous” prize pumpkin.

“He’s so excited about the competition,” she said. “He’s really determined to win this year.” Lucas says his special secret to the pumpkins’ size is chicken manure, but the enthusiastic youngster also keeps a close eye on his prized vegetables, making sure to water them when they need it.

“That’s how this one got so massive,” he explained. “It’s heavy to carry but I can manage. They taste good as well - I like pumpkin pie and pumpkin soup.” Pumpkins aren’t the only thing that Lucas grows - the young gardener has also produced “massive” sweetcorn and peas that he loves to eat straight out of the pod.

For Donna, it comes as a relief that there’s no trouble trying to get her son to eat his vegetables.

“I’m so glad he’s daft about growing veg, and they taste so much better too,” she said.

“I’m chuffed he’s so enthusiastic about it. I have good memories of doing it with my own mum and dad so I’m happy that he enjoys it too.”