A GOVERNMENT minister has visited a fruit farm in Worcestershire to congratulate the owners on the success diversification of their business.

Lord Nigel Whitty, who is the Under Secretary of State for Agriculture, spent an hour at Clive's Fruit Farm in Upton-upon-Severn, yesterday.

Two years ago Jane Clive and her husband Charlie recognised the need to diversify their business in order to prevent their farm from being forced to close.

Their first project was to open a nursery for children in 2001, then in October 2002 they diversified once more by starting an apple juicing plant.

Both initiatives have been so successful that, just before Easter, Malvern Hills District Council gave the Clives' two prestigious awards.

They received the Platinum Awards for Retailer's Excellence for the farm and Chairman's Special Award for the nursery.

"We are extremely happy," said Jane. "It is nice to be recognised for all the hard work we have put in.

"Myself and my husband have been running the farm for 14 years and we decided to diversify because of falling fruit prices.

"We have to do what we can to keep afloat."