IT was a celebration of that most humble of fruit when visitors flocked to a New Forest village for its fifth annual Apple Day.

Hundreds of people were tempted to Damerham by displays, sales, samples and games - all with an apple theme.

Fruit from local orchards was on sale and there were also home-made apple pies, preserves and puddings.

Apple expert Harry Baker from Ringwood was on hand to identify rare varieties brought in by amateur gardeners while other growers vied for the prize of largest apple. Visitors also had a chance to break the British record for the longest continuous strip of peel from a single apple, which stands at 778 centimetres or 25 and a half feet.

Apple Day organiser Robin Robbins said: "Each year it gets bigger and more popular. Everybody has fun and it is very much a social occasion."

Proceeds from the day, staged by Damerham Horti-cultural Society, will go towards the running of the Damerham Flower Show.