Browns have green fingers

Garden and greenhouse enthusiasts may be interested to hear Gordon Brown is leading by example.

The prime minister and his wife Sarah have reportedly been growing their own food in the grounds of number ten.

Much of the work is carried out by the Royal Parks Agency, but the couple are believed to take a keen interest, with Mrs Brown commenting on its success on microblogging site Twitter.

"The strawberries have been great, but you have to beat the birds to them; little green peppers looking good now," she wrote on June 28th.

Produce from the garden, which also includes tomatoes and cos lettuce, is being sold in the canteen used by government staff.

The latter of these can be purchased whole for £1.98.

It follows the Queen making part of the grounds of Buckingham Palace available for a vegetable plot and Michelle Obamas kitchen garden at the White House.