A CHAMPION gooseberry grower claims his prized bushes were poisoned and killed by a rival. Terry Price, 76, said his bushes began looking sickly three months ago and that within days they had all died. The widower sent some of his plants to a lab to be tested and found they had been sprayed with […]
A CHAMPION gooseberry grower claims his prized bushes were poisoned and killed by a rival.
Terry Price, 76, said his bushes began looking sickly three months ago and that within days they had all died.
The widower sent some of his plants to a lab to be tested and found they had been sprayed with a harmful chemical formula not available to buy over the counter.
He said: “They have been tampered with, there’s no doubt about that.
“I’ve got a good idea about who did it but time will tell.
“The truth will come out.”
He said the alleged sabotage destroyed his hopes of retaining his title for the heaviest gooseberry in the village of Goostrey, Cheshire.
Instead, it was won by Chris Jones, 69, with a 45g fruit.
Martin de Kretser, secretary of the Goostrey Gooseberry Society, said: “If this was another gooseberry grower they would be banned for life.
“I do hope it was just a mistake in using contaminated compost or accidental spraying with the wrong chemicals.
“It is easily done.”
