World's biggest tomato which can feed a family of four launched in the UK

The world's biggest tomato has been launched in the UK.

The Gigantomo plants can grow enormous fruits up to 10 inches wide and as heavy as 3lbs - about 12 times the size of an average salad tomato.

The super-sized tomatoes are so big that one tomato alone can serve up to four people, and just one slice fills an entire burger bun or sandwich.

Each plant can grow to 6ft tall and yield as many as 11 tomatoes but it needs to be supported to stop it buckling under the weight of the fruit.

The new variety is the result of almost two decades of research and development by breeders in the UK and the US.

Simon Crawford, one of the UK's leading plant breeders, was called in five years ago to finish the work of late American grower Paul Thomas, who spent 15 years trying to breed a huge tomato which tasted good too.

Mr Thomas passed away before he saw his enormous tomatoes hit the market, but Mr Crawford was able to complete the breeding programme to ensure there would be enough seed to sell commercially.

They were launched in the US last year by seed company Burpee and sold under the name SteakHouse.

Gigantomo tomatoes can only be bought from Lincolnshire seed seller Van Meuwen, which has launched them in their spring 2015 plant collection.