THE European Commission has decided to scrap many of the rules forbidding the sale of knobbly produce.

Curved cucumbers, peculiar peppers and twisted turnips now look set to join perfect fruit and vegetables in shops.

Supermarket giant Sainsbury's has argued that scrapping rules that prevent misshapen produce reaching the shelves could reduce prices by up to 40 per cent.

EU laws to ensure fruit and vegetables were sold in standard shapes and sizes were introduced following requests from food buyers to assist them in large-scale contracts. But after calls from supermarket groups the commission has decided to scrap many rules.

Nick Riley, who delivers Riverford organic vegetable boxes in Mid Devon said: "Riverford has loved ugly veg for 20 years. Our customers are quite happy to buy irregularly shaped vegetables."