FRUIT farmers said the lack of rainfall this winter had not affected growth of their crops so far - but they could start suffering unless a deluge arrived soon.

Robin Bickley, who runs a the fruit farm at Avonbank, Pershore College, said growth had held up well despite the lack of rain.

He said "We grow everything here. Apples have done really well, following on from a really good autumn. Cherries, grapes and blackcurrants have done fine.

"The lack of rainfall means we can get out and work on the crops. The ground tends to stay nice and moist most of the year so the fruit keeps growing."

"It's the blazing sunshine that tends to affect them much more. Our biggest worry is the sun, because that takes the moisture from the ground.

Mr Bickley was confident enough water would arrive to counteract the lack of rainfall over the winter.

He said: "We are getting drier weather but it looks pretty wet next week, which will make up for the dry spell at the moment. We are always reliant on a deluge of rain, because in recent years winters have become dry.

Other farmers also said they were not worried by the recent lack of rainfall.

Paul Dunsby, who runs Cotswold Orchards in Broadway, said: "I would like to see some rain before the season ends, that's for sure, but nature always has a knack of putting things right.

"It hasn't affected us at all - in fact that apples are booming. The fruits are growing in spite of the dry spell."

Sarah Bent, of Phepson Farm, Droitwich, agreed there was no cause for alarm, saying: "The drier seasons are now completely normal for fruit and vegetable growers.

"We always need wetter weather and realise that it now comes in increasingly short spells."