It’s the hottest chilli in the world – and it has been grown by complete accident in the heart of rural England. Green-fingered Nick Woods’ fiery Frankenstein creation measures 1.17 MILLION on the Scoville scale of mouth-searing ferocity.

Those brave enough to try it say it leaves you “shaking uncontrollably and unable to speak”. Nick, 39, runs his own business, Fire Foods, from his base in Grantham, Lincs – the old home of fire-breathing former PM Margaret Thatcher.

Nick discovered the record-breaker lurking in his greenhouse. He said: “I didn’t set out to grow it – it must have cross-bred with the others. One day I just saw it there. I had a taste and it was nice at first, strangely fruity.

“Then it hit me. I had to sit down – I wouldn’t recommend anyone to eat it raw.” Nick and wife Zoe started their thriving business after a friend gave them a chilli plant as a gift.

His Infinity chilli beats the former world champ, India’s Bhut Jolokia – so potent it is used in hand grenades. Now Nick is hoping for an inclusion in the Guinness Book of Records. He said: “It would be great if Grantham could be a red-hot world leader.”