A Russian farmer broke the country's record of heaviest ever pumpkin, weighing almost one metric ton.

It took more than 6 months for Alexander Chusov, a farmer from the Moscow region, to grow a 969kg (2130lb) pumpkin, breaking his own record for the heaviest pumpkin grown in Russia.

"It's scientific work," Chusov told The Associated Press.

He explained that he had carefully chosen the seeds for his champion pumpkin, as well as building a special greenhouse with soil and air heating, calibrating with high precision the pumpkin's nutritional and watering needs.

"It's like sport," Daria Yermilova, who organised the contest of giant vegetables in Moscow, told the AP.

"Growing vegetables is a true long-term sport where you remain tense for half a year staying constantly in the process," she said.

More than 3,000 people competed in the giant vegetable growing competition - the vegetables grown included a 144kg (317lb) watermelon and a 73kg (160lb) courgette.

The champion vegetables will now be displayed at the Apothecary Garden in Moscow.