West Kilbride Horticultural Society will be hosting a special competition throughout the coming months.

With the North Ayrshire town commonly known as ‘The Tattie Toon’, it is fitting that the group will host an event about potatoes.

The competition will see entrants buy a builder’s bucket to grow, with the objective to grow tatties within the container.

The person whose bucket with the greatest weight of potatoes will be crowned the winner of the contest at the summer show in August.

However, those wishing to enter can buy their bucket and two potato seeds for £2 from the spring show in the West Kilbride Village Hall on Saturday, March 21.

A club spokesperson said: “The word ‘tattie’ is Scottish for potato and ‘bogle’ means ghoul or ghost.

“Originally the term was used to refer to a creature that would lurk in the fields and scare away humans, but it is now used to mean a scarecrow.

“The Ayrshire coast has traditionally grown early potatoes because of the mild climate and sandy soils, previously using natural seaweed fertiliser from the beaches.

“And what’s this got to do with the Horticultural Society?

“We’re hosting our Tattiebogle competition in 2020.

“Buckets and seeds must be supplied by the society to ensure a fair competition.”

Entry into the new competition is open to anyone.

There will be a prize up for grabs at the summer show in August.

Scarecrow attire on the winner is not obligatory.