ORCHARDS across Worcestershire and Herefordshire are celebrating after the cider industry and the apple growers that support it received a boost from the European Union.

Orchards can now be included in the single payment scheme - a subsidy for farmers.

Apple growers say it also means that they are recognised as an important part of the farming industry and can now include the price of their orchards in the total valuation of their company.

The previous exemption had threatened a situation where the capital value of orchards might fall because the land was not registered in the scheme.

Fenella Tyler, head of cider communications at Bulmers, said it was good news for the cider industry even if it had take two to three years.

She said: "It is recognition for our growers and the orchards."

John Thatcher, chairman of the pomology committee of the National Association of Cider Makers (NACM), said: "This is a great step forward for the apple growing industry and recognises the important part we play in the rural economy.

"We would wish to thank and commend the EU for listening to the case presented by the NACM, and others, in arriving at this decision.

"With the total acreage of land given over to orchards relatively small when compared with the total amount of agricultural land, the impact on the scheme will be modest. But for cider makers and apple growers it threatened to be a serious issue, hence we are extremely pleased with the outcome achieved."

The announcement was made at the annual meeting of the pan-European group of cider and fruit wine makers in Suffolk.