When little Nicholas Boczcariw planted a sunflower seed at playgroup he could never have imagined the dizzy heights it would reach.

But with a spot of careful nurturing three-year-old Nicholas, of New Row, Ambrosden, near Bicester, has seen the sunflower climb to more than 10ft tall.

He now stands firmly in the shade alongside the colossal bloom, which has been reinforced with a length of wood to keep it upright.

Dad Peter Boczcariw said: "We were very surprised when it started growing and now the stem is the thickness of an arm. It's a magnificent example, especially as Nicholas grew it from the seed at playschool."

Children at Ambrosden village pre-school playgroup all planted a seed in milk cartons filled with soil in April and left them on the window sill to grow.

When the flowers reached two inches they took them home to plant in the garden. But of the 20 children at the playgroup, only Nicholas had any success.

Playgroup supervisor Maureen Cossens, of Roman Way, Ambrosden, said: "Nicholas is so excited - it's a fantastic sunflower. It's a bit like Jack and the Beanstalk."

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