FINDING one four-leaf clover is rare so imagine one family's delight when they found 25 of them.

Andrew Johnson, nine, and his sister Lucy, 12, of Sparcells, were delighted to discover their front garden brimming with the clovers.

It is generally accepted that there is one four-leaf clover for every 10,000 three-leaf ones.

The rare clover is considered by many to be a sign of good luck, and it was as if by luck that Andrew found the first one.

Andrew, who goes to Brookfield Primary School, said: "I tripped over in my garden and saw something a bit weird. It was a four-leaf clover and there was another one next to it."

Excited by his find, Andrew rushed to tell Lucy, who came out to help him find more.

"We found 25 in total and two five-leaf clovers. It was really exciting," said Lucy, who goes to Bradon Forest School.

"We have pressed them and now we're going to laminate them and keep them forever. When I told my friends they were shocked and couldn't believe it."

The highest number of leaves found on a clover is 18, according to the Guinness Book of Records.

Lucy said: "Mum and Dad said they hadn't seen a four-leaf clover in their life before and were very shocked."

Dad Paul, 42, is an accountant at WH Smith. He said: "Andrew and Lucy were very excited.

"I do hope we have got a lucky garden, I haven't checked my lottery numbers from Saturday night yet so we'll have to see."

Although rare, four-leaf clovers are thought to occur for a variety of reasons, including pollution and soil composition.

As well as environmental factors, some believe that the four leaves are produced through a form of genetic mutation.

But Paul just puts it down to his being busy.

He said: "We've had some building work done and I haven't had the chance to mow the lawn so I think it might have something to do with me letting things get a bit overgrown."

Dale Lewis, manager at the Wyevale garden centre in Stratton, said: "You'd be lucky to find two in a garden, so finding 25 is certainly unusual. It's almost a freak of nature and I've never heard of it happening before. Hopefully it will be lucky for them."