PERSISTENT drizzle on Saturday did not deter a bumper turnout for Porlock’s annual apple day at the village’s visitor centre.

The main focus of the day was on the transformation of apples into juice, and with excellent crops this year it proved a great way to use surplus fruit.

Both traditional and modern techniques were on display, with the Porlock Apple Press dating from 1862 powered by man and Porlock Community Orchard using a water-powered press.

The apple press group showed the effort required to squeeze the juice from apples, and the results were available for immediate sampling.

They also provided bottled juice, while some of the juice will be turned into cider - a way of preserving it for longer.

Members of Porlock Community Orchard have the equipment to pasteurise the juice they produce, so it can be stored for up to a year and enjoyed “out of season”.

They have been busy juicing apples from the orchard but spent apple day juicing and pasteurising harvests collected by local people from their own trees.

But Apple Day wasn’t just about juicing. ... Full story and pictures in the Free Press.