Ashprington been wassailed, with dozens of villagers taking part in the ancient tradition of singing to their apple trees.

Some 60 people from Ashprington and Tuckenhay gathered to see young Ewan Whitchurch-Bennett crowned Wassail King.

They then processed with him to the Ash Meadow Orchard in Ashprington where a piper played and the villagers sang to the trees in a tradition aimed at ensuring a good cider crop for the coming year.

The event, which went ahead on Twelfth Night, was organised by Ash Meadow Committee.

The villagers gathered at Ashprington’s war memorial outside the Durant Arms pub to watch the crowning.

Committee chairman Jill Davies said: “Armed with an assortment of drums and other noisy instruments, following Ewan, they all trooped up to Ash Meadow Orchard where all the usual ceremonial merriment took place with the King duly lifted into the oldest apple tree.

“The Ashprington singers plus a piper helped to lead the singing.

“Apple cake donated by many of the villagers was duly washed down with hot spiced apple juice before the final gunshots fired across the orchard denoted the time to sing the final Wassail Song and head back down to the pub.

“Many people continued the merriment well into the evening at the Durant encouraged by the folk group Banned from the Moor.”