Vicki Larrieux from Portsmouth survives on a diet of meat, potatoes, cereals and an occasional apple as she suffers from a fear, called lachanophobia, which leaves her sweating and stricken with panic attacks at the sight of sprout or pea.

“I have always had an irrational fear of vegetables; even as a child I used to properly freak out if some carrots or a few peas were on my plate. But as it continued into adult life, I started to think it might not just be a dislike of vegetables but an actual phobia. “Every time I would see vegetables, not just on my plate but anywhere, I would get feelings of panic, start sweating and my heart rate would shoot up,” ‘The Daily Express’ quoted her as saying.

Vicki’s condition makes routine trips to supermarket or a night out at a restaurant with boyfriend Joseph Jade, 25, a major problem. She said: “It is a bit of an ordeal to go to the supermarket as the vegetables are usually right by the door.