VISITORS to Wisbech got the chance to try more than 20 varieties of apples as part of the town s apple day. It was the third time apple day had come to the town, and was organised by Wisbech regeneration group WisARD, in partnership with Fenland District

VISITORS to Wisbech got the chance to try more than 20 varieties of apples as part of the town's apple day.

It was the third time apple day had come to the town, and was organised by Wisbech regeneration group WisARD, in partnership with Fenland District Council's markets department.

The event kicked off on Friday at the town's Farmers Market, where prizes were won for the longest apple peel and correctly guessing the number of apples in the basket. Fresh apples and juice was sold from Smiths fruit and vegetable stall, and Elgood's Brewery, in North Brink, sold apple pies, cider and beer.

And Friday evening saw a talk entitled 'The Core of the Matter' by Dick Sanders, former head of horticulture at the College of West Anglia, where varieties, common pests, diseases of apple trees and ways of producing your own fruit were discussed.

Saturday saw apple bobbing in the Market Place alongside more attempts for the longest apple peel and number of apples in the basket, as well as a shop window apple hunt through the Horsefair Shopping Centre.

There was also a stall full of information about apples and recipes, an opportunity to try home-made apple cakes and pies on a Women's Institute stall and a 'Fens Food and Flower' display, celebrating more tasty Fenland products. Balloon bending antics and a face painter were also on hand to entertain children.

Other events included a video of reminiscences of apple picking around the town, an exhibition of apple varieties at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, tasting apple delicacies and varieties at Peckover House, and a guided tour around 22 acres of Willock Farm orchard, in Wisbech St Mary.