A west Norfolk farmer has lifted the trophy for growing his club's biggest sugar beet of the year - with his winning specimen tipping the scales at 5.94kg.

John Lowe won Stoke Ferry Agricultural Society's annual contest ahead of last year's winner Roger Lankfer in second place, with a beet weighing 5.082kg, and Ed Lankfer, who took third place with 4.184kgs.

The trophy was presented by Dr Alistair Wright of the Norwich-based British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO), who also gave a talk on the scientific efforts to combat the damaging crop disease virus yellows.

He spoke about variety trials and how tolerance of the virus is being successfully bred into new beet varieties while retaining good yields. He also discussed the importance of the choice of cover crops before growing sugar beet, as some species can host the virus and cause problems to following crops.

Club chairman Martyn Cockerill said: "Overall a great evening enjoyed by the members."

The club's next meeting is on December 10 at Ryston Park Golf Club near Downham Market, featuring a talk from a farm at Watlington which has diversified to create the Watatunga Wildlife Reserve.