HAMPSHIRE'S record-breaking pumpkin could be set to float on water.

Grown by New Forest twins Ian and Stuart Paton, it tipped the scales at 819lb to become the biggest pumpkin grown in Britain this year.

The vegetable was the star feature at the Jubilee Sailing Trust's sixth annual pumpkin festival at Netley's Royal Victoria Country Park. From Netley it is being transported to a garden centre at Hertfordshire for another weigh-in. When it returns home to the Pinetops Nurseries near Lymington, it will be hollowed out and the very special seeds kept for germinating next year.

It could literally sow the seeds for another record breaker. And it is hoped to sail or float the scooped out pumpkin on a lake in Hampshire very soon.

This could be a first for Britain and pumpkin festival spokesman John Davison said: "This is common practice in America but as far as we know has never been done in Britain."

Meanwhile, Mr Davison has praised the Marchwood based 17 Port and Maritime Regiment of the Royal Logistic Corps for their expert manoeuvres in bringing the giant pumpkin to Netley for the pumpkin party of the year.

The second heaviest pumpkin weighing in at Netley at 453lb was produced by Eastleigh allotment gardener Tim Bowditch.