Newbie - Globe Artichoke advice please

Hello everyone,

I got my first allotment about 6 months ago and inherited a globe artichoke with it.

It grew huge over the summer and is growing up through the path on the edge of my plot.  I do not like artichokes and have tried (unsuccessfully) to remove it.  Initially I just cut it down to ground level, and a few weeks later (during which it had started to re grow) I tried digging it out - and broke my fork in the process!

My question therefore, is how do I remove a long established globe artichoke?

Any advice appreciated.

Dubone