It is news that children throughout the land will dread: there has been a bumper crop of Brussels sprouts this year.

The temperature maybe about to drop now, but the unseasonably warm autumn has meant the festive green will be bigger than usual.

Farmers say sprouts usually weigh about 15g and are 30mm in diameter - but they are harvesting sprouts more than double this weight this year owing to a relatively mild September and October.

The forecast cold spell over the coming week will slow the growth of the vegetables and cause leaves to drop from the stalks, which will help harvesting them.

Richard Mowbray, commercial manager at Lincolnshire-based TH Clements, said: "In a normal year, average sprouts are about 30mm in diameter and weigh around 15g and the ones we are harvesting already are absolute whoppers - over 50mm in diameter and weighing over 50g."

Rob Hooper from Tesco said: "The larger size of sprouts will be good news for customers cooking the Christmas dinner this year as it means the vegetables will be easier to peel, without losing their sweet flavour.

"Nobody likes the chore of peeling sprouts but this year, because of their size, customers will need fewer of them on their Christmas dinner plates and that means less work in the kitchen."