COULD the heatwave be behind this fast-growing plant in Hereford?

Shirley Symonds has seen the garden plant grow to around seven ft in her greenhouse despite never putting down seeds.

The plant is believed to be a Nicotiana sylvestris, commonly known as a woodland tobacco plant.

It normally grows to around three or four foot and is native to South America.

"It just appeared about a month ago," said Sylvia.

"My daughter then told me that it was a tobacco plant and flowers started to grow from it. The branches are still spreading."