A GARDENER from Shrewton has been left baffled after a mysterious “Jack and the Beanstalk” style plant has taken over his greenhouse.

Malcolm Hughes, 64, first noticed the seedling poking out from the concrete floor of the greenhouse around two months ago.

Now it has grown to completely dominate the structure, and Mr Hughes fears that soon he will no longer be able to get through the door.

Mr Hughes, who has had one of his legs amputated, does not want to remove the plant in case it turns out to be the poisonous Giant Hogweed.

The toxic plant would require removal by environmental health officers, so he is desperate to see if Journal readers recognise it.

“I have never seen anything quite like it.” he said. “I have gardener friends come round to look at it, some of whom are very experienced, but they have not got a clue either.

“To be honest I think it might be a pepper plant but I have never seen one look like this. It is alien.”

Mr Hughes says the plant has continued to grow since it was photographed last week, and reckons it increased in size by almost a foot in 24 hours.

“Somebody must know this is,” he added. “The leaves are the size of dinner plates and are starting to push up the panes of glass in the greenhouse.

“Being disabled I’m worried that I won’t be able to repair the glass if it becomes damaged.

“If people start to go missing in Shrewton, we will know what has eaten them!”

  •  Can you identify the plant? Contact 01722 426511 or newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk.