Bananas sprout in Rayleigh garden after 15 years

The Musa Basjoo banana has always been famous for being able to survive UK winters, but the flower often needs protection from frost.

The Stavs have built walls around their plants to trap heat and create a “microclimate effect” for the colder winter weather.

Peter said: “Over the past couple of winters I haven’t wrapped them up because they’re nearly 3m (10ft) tall so it’s very difficult to wrap them. This year due to the heatwave, the plant’s actually fruited.

“You put one in the ground and you get another 10 come up. They split. They produce more and more and more.”

Elsewhere in the East of England, a 76-year-old man from Suffolk was in “complete surprise” when his banana plant suddenly produced fruit for the first time.

Stephen Hind, of Pettistree near Wickham Market, bought the tree for his exotic garden a few years ago because “they just look good”, and believes scorching temperatures played a part in bringing it to life.