CHART topper Ed Sheeran has had a phenomenal few years – but he probably never thought his success would lead to this.

Paul Johnson, the world’s only plum charmer and tree whisperer, plans to use the pop star’s tunes to encourage shy plums into fruition.

The 53-year-old from near Bishop’s Cleeve – suited and booted in ancient purple robes – will take to Worcestershire’s orchards and play hits from the singer-songwriter’s X album.

And he hopes his efforts to serenade the plums will contribute to a bumper summer crop and ensure the tasty fruits ripen in time for this year’s Pershore Plum Festival.

Mr Johnson’s repertoire is not however limited to music from the Brit Award winner.

He will also treat the trees to jazz blues, sunshine-themed songs and even a historic poem - An Ode to Our Plum Trees and How The Charmer Came To Be.

But this is no joke. He is serious about the ancient craft and his special skills have been drafted in after heavy downpours left the plum harvest behind schedule.

Mr Johnson, a solicitor by trade but Pershore’s official plum charmer in his spare time, said: “The plums are a couple of weeks behind and so the Pershore Plum Festival committee called for emergency action to encourage them to ripen.

“But there is plenty of time for the fruit to catch up and I’m sure with some added encouragement through plum charming there will be a great supply at the festival.

“Since I started, we are satisfied that plum charming has been a positive thing for plum production and the festival itself.

“The proof is in the pudding – and Pershore plum puddings are very sweet.”

This is the third year Mr Johnson, who has worked as a solicitor in Pershore for 25 years, has been involved in plum charming, after being appointed to the official role.

He added that playing jazz blues for the Pershore Purple plum variety and sunshine-themed songs such as Bring Me The Sunshine and Summertime for the Pershore Yellow Egg plum variety have been most successful in the past.

But he will be testing out the impact of other music – including some of Ed Sheeran’s most popular hits – at orchards across Pershore and the Vale of Evesham over the coming weeks.

Pershore Plum Festival is a triple award-winning festival that turns the Worcestershire town purple in its endeavour to celebrate its special fruit.

The month-long festival, which runs from Sunday, July 26, to Monday, August 31, culminates in three ‘plum crazy’ days of events and activities over the August bank holiday weekend.

For more details visit pershoreplumfestival.org.uk