THIS giant sunflower reaches past the bedroom of the little girl owner who has proudly grown the plant from a 20p seed.

Ten-year-old Robyn Smith began growing her massive sunflower in a competition run by her school, Lakeside Primary, in Clifton Moor, York.

Robyn, of Grimwith Garth, Clifton Moor, now has to reach out of her bedroom window to water the flower which currently stands at four metres high (13ft 2ins).

Her dad, Ian, said the family never expected it to grow so high. He said: "We've given it a lot of tender loving care over the months, but we were surprised when it just kept growing and growing.

"It's actually been moved from pillar to post as we have done work on the garden, but it seems to be a happy sunflower and obviously wants Robyn to win the competition at school. It's almost towering over the house!"

Robyn won't find out whether she has got the tallest sunflower until she returns to class next month, but she's keeping her fingers crossed.

And it seems green fingers run in the family, as her little sister Alyssa, four, has been growing tomato plants, which have kept the family in salad all summer.

Ian added: "They have both done really well and looked after their plants. Alyssa's tomato plants are more than four feet high and have given us a constant supply of tomatoes all summer. They are green-fingered girls!"

Updated: 10:31 Saturday, August 18, 2001