THE rain clouds dispersed on Saturday night, in time for the Much Marcle Wassail to begin its outdoor festivities.

The event, held at the orchards of Westons Cider, proved to be a great night of music and merriment with over 100 people coming along to join in the ancient custom.

The pagan ritual of blessing the trees to ward off evil spirits and ask for a bumper harvest has enjoyed a minor resurgence in recent years as cider has regained popularity.

Organised by the Ledbury-based Silurian Morris, it is also an opportunity for them to perform historical songs and dances from the Welsh Borders and surrounding areas.

Crowds gathered at the cider mill for 7pm with some guests enjoying a warming glass of mulled cider before watching the morris men perform.

Fire torches were lit and handed out as the procession made its way to one of Westons’ oldest orchards for the wassail to take place.

The Silurian invited some children to step forward to hang cider-soaked toast from the trees and several bonfires were lit to scare away anything that could prevent the trees from producing fruit this autumn.

Gemma Evans, communications officer at Westons Cider said “This was my first wassail at Westons and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the sight of everyone holding a fire-lit torch and marching down the hill shouting ‘Wassail’ was great fun.

"We had lots of families joining in with some visitors coming from as far away as Billericay in Essex.

"The Silurian Morris do a fantastic job of organising this free event, with all money raised on the night going to St Michaels Hospice. Figures are still being confirmed, but Westons will be matching the figure to help out this great cause. Thank you to Silurian and everyone who made it on the night."

“Westons cider apple crop relies on Silurian wassail every January,” said the ceremony’s butler, or leader, an Craigan. “Without it the world would be a drier, duller place. And St Michael’s relies on local support too."