There could be a shortage of UK-grown shallots ahead of this year's harvest in August.

The shortage has been blamed on last year's wet weather, which made growing difficult.

There has also been an increased demand for the vegetable. Sales of UK-grown shallots in the first quarter of 2008 were up more than 13% by volume on the same period last year.

While growers were usually able to secure year-round provision by storing the previous year's crop, this year supply was "very likely" to dry up due to last year's rain-damaged crop, said grower Robert Oldershaw.