A HEREFORDSHIRE man who surprised his wife by digging up his entire lawn has won a vegetable competition.

Martin Gallagher asked his wife Edwina if she minded if he dug up some of his lawn to grow a few vegetables but on her return from work she was shocked to discover that he had dug up and constructed several raised beds.

But Mrs Gallagher has now become more green fingered after Martin won the coveted Horticultural Shield at the Kingsthorne and Little Birch annual open horticultural show for a selection of his vegetables.

Mr Gallagher, who learned gardening from his mother, said: “I have been involved in the village garden show and entered that for the last few years but I never thought my name would be read out at the horticultural show. It was a shock.”

Mr Gallagher has been spending the last few years gardening with his wife’s auntie, Elizabeth Dinner.

The Horticultural Shield is awarded to the best garden produce with points scored for first, second and third which are then tallied up.