The leafy green would normally set you back less than a pound but amid the salad shortage iceberg lettuce is on sale in Norwich for a staggering £20.

Eastern Daily Press: This lettuce is currently on sale for £20. Picture GumtreeThis lettuce is currently on sale for £20. Picture Gumtree (Image: Gumtreet)

The vegetable in question is currently on sale on the Gumtree website and is described as a 'very rare iceberg lettuce' which is importantly still in date.

The Norwich seller stated in the description: 'Ultra rare iceberg from USA last in stock in Sainsbury's! £20 o.n.o you won't regret it!'

It comes as supermarkets have limited the number of lettuces each customer can purchase in stores and iceberg, sweet gem and romaine varieties have been taken off sale completely by some online.

MORE: It would seem ridiculous to previous generations that anyone should complain at only being able to buy three iceberg lettuces in the middle of winterThe latest eggplant in the face in the European vegetable shortage, follows similar reductions in the supply of courgettes, salad peppers, broccoli and cabbage.

An extreme mix of drought followed by flooding and freezing conditions has severely affected growers in southern Spain, while poor conditions have also hit farmers in Italy, Greece and Turkey.

The shortage caused great distress for one Norwich man after his wife was limited to just three lettuces putting his mother's birthday buffet into turmoil.

In the BBC Radio Norfolk clip host Nick Conrad speaks to Ray, whose mother 'likes a prawn cocktail' and whose wife Pam has been targeted by a lettuce disaster of Titanic proportions at the Harford Bridge Tescos on Ipswich Road.

Despite advising his other half to branch out to other supermarkets to ensure the birthday buffet goes to plan, Pam 'doesn't go to Sainsbury's' which has proven the tip of the iceberg for the pair.

MORE: 'The mother likes a prawn cocktail' - Norwich man's desperate plea for iceberg lettuce ahead of 90th birthday buffet

Experts have warned that if the weather does not improve in the coming weeks the problem may continue until April, with customers hit by price rises.