THE Malvern Autumn Show provided a grand finale to the major show season at the Three Counties Showground.

It attracted a record number of visitors over the weekend and also saw a staggering six new world records set in the CANNA UK National Giant Vegetables Championship.

There was also a bumper crop of experts sharing their passion and know-how to make it a real showstopper for 68,000-plus visitors who came through the gates.

This year’s two-day show also had a fresh look and layout, and regular visitors were delighted with the new sections that brought something for everyone to enjoy such as willow wand making and spoon carving in the rural crafts area, to mini-golf and circus skills on the Family Green, giant tortoises and hairless dogs in the World of Animals there was something to keep all the family entertained.

A particularly popular new addition was the Top Dogs Arena hosted by former BBC Blue Peter presenter and dog lover, Peter Purves. This lively area showcased the wonderful ability and agility of man’s best friend.

Valentine Warner and Mark Diacono headlined the Autumn Potager Kitchen whilst a bumper crop of horticultural experts including BBC Gardeners’ World presenters Joe Swift, Carol Klein and Alys Fowler shared their passion, top tips and gardening know how in the Autumn Potager Theatre.

Broadcasting legend, Gyles Brandreth stole the show with his ‘Just a Minute – I’m in the Garden’ and Tales from the Wardrobe.

Head of Show, Diana Walton, said: “This is my second year of leading Malvern Autumn Show and I wanted to refresh things to make it feel like an exciting new show.”

The National Giant Vegetables Championship six world records were set across 33 categories, with almost 600 entries in total. The growers brought their supersized submissions from the length and breadth of the country to what is the largest giant vegetables competition in the UK.

Among the records set was that for the World’s Heaviest Red Cabbage. Previous world record holder, Cornishman David Thomas gave Tim from Reading the seed for his colossal cabbage that tipped the scales at 23.7kg.

The show also hosted the last major RHS Flower Show of the season in a brand new Floral Marquee at the heart of the new Gardening Village and among the winners was the Bromsgrove-based North Worcestershire Fuchsia Society which won a silver prize for its exhibition stand.

Next year’s show will be held on September 28 and 29, while the RHS Spring Festival will take place from May 9 to 12.

This weekend the show ground hosts the Malvern Caravan Show from Friday, October 5 to Sunday, October 7.