AN ANCIENT apple-themed ritual for hailing in a fruitful harvest is being held in Watchfield near Highbridge next weekend.

A charity wassail to toast a good apple crop for 2014, plied with the scrumpy-and-Western madness of The Mangledwurzels, will take place on Saturday, January 11, from 7pm.

The night of folklore is being thrown by Rich’s Farmhouse Cider, at Mill Farm in Watchfield, in conjunction with Burnham-on-Sea Rotary Club, to raise money for B.U.S.T, the breast cancer unit support trust.

Tickets cost £7.50 in advance from www.richscider.co.uk or on the gate.

A mug of mulled cider on arrival and a bowl of Somerset casserole will also be on offer, but not included in the ticket price.