FRUIT FANS had the pick of the crop at Normanby Hall's fourth annual Apple Day.

More than 60 delicious varieties were celebrated at yesterday's event, which also sought to identify home-grown varieties and promote home growing.

The day was organised by the Fruitscape company, which travels across the north of the country to educate people on the huge variety of apples that can be grown throughout the year.

Fruitscape owner Clifford Cain said: "The event is to provide identification for people, to show the range of apples that can be grown in the north of England and to try to get people to grow their own trees.

"This is the fourth year we have been here and, unfortunately, the weather has not done us a favour this year, which is a shame.

"We had 67 apples on display and it is just the start of the season.

"By the time we finish, we will have about 100 apples.

"The hope is that we get someone bringing in an old or rare variety that is not still about and then we can try to preserve them."

Mike Passey, also of Fruitscape, said: "The idea is to show people there is more than just the supermarket apples.

"There are more than 3,500 different varieties and this is just a handful of what you can grow in the north.

"It is also about educating people to show you don't have to have much space to grow a tree.

"You can grow it in a pot or as a stick with a lot of fruit, rather than as a huge tree."

Among those at the Apple Day was Jane Sheard, 45, of Thorne, who took her five-year-old son, Harrison.

She said: "We are season ticket holders at Normanby hall and we come as often as we can.

"We noticed there was something going on when we saw the signs for Apple Day on the gate.

"Harrison knows apples are good for you and they are healthy and we always have them in the fruit bowl at home.

"We are absolutely amazed by the number of varieties.

"There is more than your usual supermarket variety and one thing we have noticed is if you buy apples in supermarket grab bags, they are tasteless, so you have to shop around to get some good quality.

"I love baking, so if I can find a good recipe with some good quality fruit, then I will go ahead and do that."

After sampling one of the apples, Harrison said: "It tasted delicious. It was very crunchy and gives me lots of energy."