A raft of local businesses, volunteers, the WI, apple fans and glorious sunshine combined to make the fifth annual Bridport Community Orchard Apple Day a success.

Local people responded to the Bridport News appeal and shared their apple crop, enabling new juicing equipment to be used for the first time on Saturday and gallons of fresh juice were drunk and bought to take home.

The equipment was purchased with funds given by the Lions Club of Bridport, Waitrose community fund, and the Community Orchard Group fundraising.

There were activities for children, including pond-dipping, apple-bobbing, a treasure hunt, and printing as well as displays of wood carving, spinning, and bee-keeping.

BCOG chairman Jill Lloyd said the day was a financial success, as well as an enjoyable community event.

“The success of the day is owed to many people without whom it would not have happened, especially Bridport Town Council, Walditch WI, who ran the café in Church House, and the generosity of local producers, especially Elwell apples, Denhay and Ford Farms and Leakers, which most generously donated products for ploughman’s lunches,” she said.

“Thanks also to those other local organisations who provided displays, and the entertainers, Wyld Monkton Morris dancers The Bucky Don’ts ukulele group, and Margie Barbour who told stories round the fire – and West Milton, Bridge Farm and Dorset Nectar ciders added to the conviviality.”