A BOUNTIFUL rose bush which started as a tiny cutting more than a decade ago is now more than 30 feet tall and 12 feet wide.

Betty Baker, of The Village, Earswick, was given the cutting by friends 15 years ago, and the bush has grown up a fir tree in her garden and grown out on to her lawn.

Betty, who is in her eighties, said: “It’s a bit of a miracle really.

“My friends had an apple tree that was completely covered in roses and they gave us three little sprigs.

“We planted them and didn’t give them much thought, but now they are absolutely covered in roses.”

Betty said no special care had been given to the bush to encourage its growth, but said the beautiful white roses were a mixed blessing.

She said: “The tree was covered with a very peculiar beetle, though it didn’t seem to trouble the roses at all, and now they’re absolutely hanging.

“The only difficulty is when I have to cut the lawn underneath it.”