Blooming plant goes through roof

A rare Mexican plant which flowers once in its lifetime has blossomed, smashing a glasshouse roof in the process.

Scientists at Bangor University waited 28 years to see the Century plant, from which tequila can be made, bloom.

A curator, who had planted the seed as a student in 1979, has spoken of his "shock" when he discovered it had sprouted a 1.6m (5ft) flower stalk.

He compared the plant, now 6.2m (20ft) tall, to "some monstrous creation from the Little Shop of Horrors".

Nigel Brown recalled how he had planted a small specimen of agave americana (its official name) on a cactus mound 28 years ago.