Pensioner Dennis Hill certainly knows his onions - he has won the prize for best allotment in Oxford for the fourth time in seven years.

Dennis HillGrowing large onions is Mr Hill's speciality, together with cabbages, beans, peppers, aubergines and asparagus.

Mr Hill, 74, is a former Rover worker. His two plots are next to the home in Minchery Road, Littlemore, which he shares with his wife Doreen, 73. He said: "I suppose I have got a good chance of winning.

"If I want to spend an extra half an hour checking my large onions and other vegetables I just nip through the garden gate. Compost is definitely the key."

He picks up his prize at the town hall on Thursday night.

There were 100 individual entries in the annual contest.

Picture: Jon Lewis