THE Gray family has been making farmhouse cider at Halstow, Tedburn St Mary, for some 350 years.

Ben Bray said last year's awful summer was 'a complete disaster' as far as apple production was concerned — luckily, the previous year the farm had a very heavy crop of apples so the cider making wasn't affected, but everyone has their fingers crossed for a good year this year.

'Hopefully we will get a good few weeks between now and next month,' said Ben, who also rears sheep and cattle on the farm.