THREE Exeter groups have begun an eight-month challenge to see who can grow the most produce in a small garden.

Pitted against each other are the staff of Harvest, a project of Exeter Community Initiatives, which aims get residents growing more, the youth volunteering organisation the Ivy Project, and Kazlum, an organisation that provides support to people with disabilities.

Each has taken over a raised bed in the community garden at St Sidwell's Centre.

The centre's volunteer garden caretaker, Clive Temperton, has agreed to weigh all the vegetables produced by each team, assess its value and make sure that each group sticks to the rules.The competition will end on September 30.