Mighty Sumo pumpkins that will be on sale for Halloween in Waitrose are being supplied by a Sussex farmer.

Boosted by the August rainfall, the mammoth 40kg Sumos were grown by Barfoots of Botley, based at Pagham, near Bognor, and are five times the size of the farm’s regular pumpkins. Each Sumo contains up to 30kg of flesh and has enough flesh for 120 bowls of pumpkin soup or 360 slices of pie.

It takes two people to lift it so help will be on hand for Waitrose customers in the form of pumpkin porters who will carry the Sumo from the shelf to checkout and finally to the car boot.

The Sumo pumpkin has been specially developed to grow to such a size without losing its distinctive orange colour.

Waitrose vegetable buyer Kate Prall said: “Sumos will certainly raise a few eyebrows down our vegetable aisles. It s the first time we have sold such a supersized product. Barfoots has been growing pumpkins for the supermarket for 18 years.”