Will there be enough pumpkins for Halloween after the hot, dry summer?

Every October, thousands flock to pumpkin patches across the country to take autumnal photos and pick a pumpkin to take home.

Pumpkin patches have been lucrative for farms over the years, with many people avoiding supermarkets, instead wanting an authentic autumn experience on their doorstep.

But at many farms, the fields of pumpkins are already ripe, with almost two months to go until Halloween.

Richard Jones from Llynclys Hall Farm, near Oswestry in Shropshire, was born on the farm, and has worked it all his life.

He is one of many farmers wondering if their pumpkins will still be ripe near the end of October.

“They have matured very early, which is not a good thing because we cannot bring Halloween forward,” he said.

“They’re now ready sitting in the field and have got to wait a month before we can sell any. This is unprecedented – I don’t know if they’ll rot.”