GREEN-fingered George Prescott was delighted with his free packet of California poppies - until they started to sprout as carrots.

The 68-year-old gardening enthusiast has adopted a raised bed at his sheltered accommodation flat at Elmridge Court, Lowton, to brighten up the lives of residents.

Each year, he plants a variety of blooms, including petunias, marigolds and sweet peas, but was puzzled when the Alan Titchmarsh gift from a Nestle cereal packet started to grow and didn't look like poppies.

George and his wife, Maureen, moved into the Court when it opened almost three years ago, after Maureen suffered a brain haemorrhage and needed care.

They left behind their Kingsley Street home in Leigh, and a big garden. Instead, George adopted the estate's raised patch.

He dead heads and saves the seeds from flowers to replant the following year, and this spring was pleased to receive the bonus poppy packet from estate manager Anthony Concannon, to enhance the bed.

Ex-Parsonage pitman George said: "I always enjoyed gardening, but after I had a by-pass in my leg 10 years ago, I couldn't do as much.

"I've adopted this patch and care for it, planting, weeding and watering every day when necessary and collecting seeds. We can see the bed from every window in our flat, so it gives us and all the residents some colour in our lives.

"I was shocked to discover carrots in the crop. I wondered what they were, but they must have come in the free packet because I only germinate the seeds I collect for replanting, and I haven't gathered any carrot seeds."

Mr Concannon said: "George puts on a lovely display for the residents. I've entered him for the Hanover In Bloom Competition. Now I don't know whether to enter him for the vegetable section as well."

A spokesman for Nestle cereals, which organised the seed promotion, said: "When we were informed of this situation, we started an immediate investigation.

"The company that supplied the seeds has checked production records and samples and can find no explanation for the apparent inclusion of carrot seeds in packets of Californian Poppy Seeds.

"The machines that pack the seed are thoroughly cleaned between each production run and no carrot seeds were packed on these machines for three months beforehand.

"We will be writing and apologising to the customer and sending a complete set of seeds, including several Californian Poppy seed packets, and hope that this will make amends for any disappointment or inconvenience caused."