HUNDREDS of people sang, danced, and drank hot cider to help protect this year’s apple harvest at Sheppy’s Cider Farm during a fun-filled evening on Friday (January 31).

They were helping to keep alive the ancient wassailing tradition, which is believed to wake up the apple trees and drive away bad spirits to ensure plenty of fruit for cider making.

Sheppy’s, an award-winning family-run firm, hosted the event at its orchard and House of Cider on the A38 between Wellington and Bradford-on-Tone.

The annual ceremony was led by new wassail queen Em Sibley, who took over from the outgoing Emma Sleigh, as crowds gathered around a huge bonfire while toast dipped in mulled cider was placed in branches of the trees and shotguns fired.

The evening included performances by the Taunton Deane Morris dancers, who are celebrating their 50th year, led by Mike Highfield, with more music and dancing by the Fresh Aire folk band.

Sheppy’s has been making cider for more than 200 years and has been in its current home since 1917, and is run today by a sixth generation of the family, David Sheppy.

Its cider is matured in oak vats, some of which have been in the family for nearly 100 years.