DUNSTER residents braved the weather last Thursday to celebrate what was only the second wassail in the area for over 60 years. The event was held at the Buttercross Community Orchard, which was planted in 2010 by the Crown Estate with the help of local volunteers.

This year's event was kicked off by Dunster First School pupils who held their own mini-wassail assisted by staff and representatives from the Crown Estate.

Undeterred by the poor weather conditions, the school's eco-action team banged on tins and chanted at the top of their voices to scare away evil spirits.

Pupils then tied pieces of toast dipped in apple juice on the branches of the trees as an offering to the spirits.

The apple juice was replaced with cider for the main wassail celebrations which got underway at 7pm later the same day.

Dunster residents of all ages gathered sang and danced, while shotguns were fired into the trees to scare away evil spirits.

After residents raised a traditional glass of mulled cider to toast the health of the orchard, the musicians led a torchlight procession to the Forester's Arms where the evening's festivities continued.

Wassailing was once a common annual fixture in England's cider-producing regions.

On Old Twelfth Night, locals would gather at orchards, recite incantations, sing wassail songs, give offerings to the trees and scare away evil spirits to ensure a bumper crop of apples in the coming year.

The centuries old pagan ceremony had been absent from the Dunster calendar for over half a century.

However, it was revived last year by the Buttercross Community Orchard organising committee, which took over the management of the orchard when it was donated it to the local community to mark the Crown Estate's 250th anniversary in 2011.

Andy Player, the Dunster Estate's countryside manager, said: "Since the Orchard was planted in 2010 it has continued to be a place that brings the local community together.

"Bringing back wassailing last year was a terrific success and this year's event was just as popular.

"Despite the weather, everyone had a wonderful time and we are already looking forward to next year's celebrations."

Buttercross Community Orchard organising committee chairman Doug Challoner, added: "The Wassail was a great success and an excellent time was had by all.

"The organising committee has worked hard to place the orchard at the heart of our community.

"We organise many events throughout the year including Apple Day in October, wassailing in January and barn dances in the summer.

"There has been an amazing response to all these events from the local community."

Photos: Steve Guscott