Regulars at a Witney pub have found a solution to the town's allotment crisis — plot-share gardening.

The recently formed Gardening Society at the New Inn, in Corn Street, was brought together by a shared passion for the hobby — but with a town allotment waiting list of 133 people, members were struggling to find somewhere to cultivate.

That was until a customer at the pub overheard the group's problem one night. He suggested they use his widowed mother's vegetable patch, as she could no longer maintain it herself.

Now three families share the 40ft by 20ft plot and want to recommend their scheme to other would-be gardeners.

New Inn landlady and club founder Catherine Dunn said the plan offered a solution for everyone.

She said: "We decided last year that we wanted to have an allotment, but knew there was a two-year waiting list.

"It makes sense for us all to share the land as the amount of work is divided three ways — and it has been a huge success. Since we started in May we have had huge yields of courgettes, cucumbers, tomatoes and radishes and we are now growing pumpkins ready for autumn.

"And we hope to be able to have a big Christmas lunch made with vegetables from our own patch."

She added: "We want to show other people who have a bit of land to offer how well this can work.

Faye Carrick, who works on the patch with husband Michael, said: "It works wonderfully.

"If any of us are away we tend to get a bit overrun with stuff, so there have been times when we've taken it to the pub and shared it out."

The plot has yielded 28 different types of produce, and now has a flourishing herb garden.

The six adults and three children in the group are competing to see who can grow the biggest and hottest chilli.

Melanie Cooke, a barmaid at the pub, works on the patch with daughter Maisie.

She said: It is a great hobby to have as a family.

"It is especially good for the kids because they can see the whole process. They plant the vegetables and tend them as they grow, and then we all sit down and eat them. Not many children can say they've grown their own dinner."