A COLLEY Gate man has made it into the Guinness World Records for growing the heaviest chilli on the planet.

Paul Davies grew a massive 460g Poblano chilli in his greenhouse at his home in West Road.

The married father-of-one had to wait months to get confirmation that he had broken the world record as the usual gardening shows which adjudicators attend had been cancelled due to covid.

Paul said: "I was looking at it and I thought that's a big chilli!

"I'd been trying to grow it for five years and I thought if I don't try and get it recognised I will lose out.

"I had to take it in to the Post Office on Five Ways in Cradley Heath - you should have seen the looks on the girls' faces!

"I weighed it on their three scales and took pictures and they verified the weight was correct - then went to the printers next door and they verified the pictures were correct.

"Then I had to go to Mick Poultney of Colley Gate gardening club for him to verify it - the process was an absolute nightmare!"

Halesowen News:

After months of waiting to hear back Paul was nearing giving up.

He said: "I've never had any luck so I just thought I wouldn't hear anything.

"When the confirmation finally arrived it was amazing.

"I was so pleased."

Paul, who works as a classic motorbike restorer, has now won sponsorship with Nottingham firm Evoponic, whose products he uses to grow giant veg.

Sadly he didn't get to use the chilli in cooking as it had rotted by the time he heard he had clinched the record. This may not have been a bad thing as he is not a fan of hot food anyway.

He is attempting to break his own record this year.