WORCESTER residents are invited to crunch their way through national apple day today in celebration of the faithful fruit.

Clives Fruit Farm from Upton-upon-Severn let lovers of the fruit sample local apples and apple juice at the CrownGate shopping centre all day yesterday in preparation for the event.

Anyone who paid a visit to the Bell Square stall, was lucky enough to receive a free apple to take away and enjoy as they stocked up on their favourite varieties.

CrownGate manager, Carolyn Mantle said: "We hoped shoppers would take a break in Bell Square to discover more about the wide range of tastes and uses of the apple.

"We have so much fantastic produce grown in this area and a lot of people are unaware of just how tasty it is."

Those who missed yesterday's early celebrations can discover more at Clives Fruit Farm, which is celebrating the event all weekend with a variety of activities including tasting and an apple and wildlife trail.

Apple day celebrates the variety and richness different apples can bring to a locality and aims to raise awareness of the hundreds of varieties of apple native to the country. It is organised by Dorset-based group Common Ground and has been celebrated for the last 15 years with events across the country.