POTS and seeds have been snapped up from outside St James Church in Okehampton town centre with the launch of a competition to grow the tallest sunflower, writes Sarah Pitt.

It is being organised by Michelle Farrelly, a congregation member at All Saints Church, to give people something to focus on while at home during the crisis.

She and helper Henry Stevenson have so far left 200 pots along with seeds outside the church for people to pick up without having to meet others. Henry is also delivering pots to those who are self isolating.

Michelle, who runs the Who Let the Dads Out? dads and tots group in Okehampton, said: ‘When our toddler group couldn’t meet anymore we thought about what we could do to bring cheer to people that would be both easy and fun. So we thought let’s do a sunflower competition! I wasn’t expecting so many people to actually take part — it has gone crazy. It is for everyone — children, adults and grandads. Anyone can have a go.’

People are invited to enter by joining the All Saints Church Sunflower Competition 2020 Facebook group and posting pictures and videos of their plant’s progress.

Whoever has the tallest sunflower on September 1 will win a £20 voucher to spend in the Okehampton shop of their choice. People are advised to plant their sunflower by the end of this month so it has three months to grow, and are also welcome to use their own pots and seeds.

‘We want people to join our Facebook group to encourage each other and on September 1 to post a picture of them measuring their sunflower,’ said Michelle, who has obtained county council funding for the contest. ‘If there is a tie we will go by the width of the flower. We are looking forward to seeing them all!’