A RETIRED couple from Milford Haven have had the fruits of their labour recognised in a national gardening competition.

Jim and Anne Hughes, of Pill Road, were named winners of best vegetable plot in a competition run by the Mirror newspaper.

The pear-growing pair, who started gardening two years ago when they retired, have transformed their garden allotment, which now provides enough fresh produce to last them all winter.

Their efforts caught the eye of judge and celebrity gardener Diarmuid Gavin, who picked them as category winners.

“The recognition is delightful. It also gives hope to other local gardeners and shows what you can do with a bit of hard work,” said Jim, 75.

“I think a lot of people didn’t realise we were gardeners, now everyone will know,” said Anne, who said she only entered ‘for a laugh’.

“We didn’t hear anything for ages, then one morning Jim started shouted ‘come here, look at this’, and there we were, in the paper,” she said.

Growing everything from beetroot, peas and beans to onions, courgettes and lettuce, they have even had success more exotic foods such as figs and olives.

“It started as a fun thing but we realised there was so much we could freeze, and now me grow so much we’ve had to give loads of it away,” said Jim.

Their latest crop of giant pumpkins has just been donated to local charity Patch (Pembrokeshire Action To Combat Hardship).

But there’s no chance Anne and Jim will go hungry this winter, with a pantry full of homemade pies, chutneys and jams to see them through.

Anne, 68, said gardening had proved a really rewarding hobby.

“It’s just nice to be able to get out there and look at it all grow and think that you’ve achieved something. I find it very therapeutic,” she said.

“You’re out in the beautiful weather and then you have all that produce at the end of it too.”

After enjoying their own new potatoes with Christmas dinner, Jim says he will be back out in the garden on Boxing Day morning, getting ready for the season ahead.

“Jim does all the seeds and bringing them on, and I help with the digging – under his supervision. He is quite a task master,” joked Anne.

“Every year you learn something new about your garden. But if someone could find a magic formula for slugs and snails I’d be delighted.”