THE clouds parted with welcome sunshine for the opening of the Bere Apple Fest on Saturday October 4, with people from an area covering Plymouth to Okehampton lining up to have their apples juiced or identified by the high level team of apple experts that had been invited to the event.

These included Mary Martin and James Evans, who set up the 'mother orchard' at Cotehele, and Chris Groves from Cotehele.

West Devon Borough councillor Ted Sherrell opened the event, saying how delighted he was to attend a truly community event in the parish of his birth.

The apple pie competition was won by Victoria Richards, with Christine Poole as runner-up, and Lilly Chevin and Niamh Mugridge-Guest winning their respective children's sections.

The grand draw was held at the close of the event and the major prize of two first class First Great Western rail tickets was won by a mystery ticket holder, who failed to declare his/her name and address!

The search is now on for blue ticket holder holding a number between 510 and 520. Search your pockets – it may be you!

If you think it is, please telephone Brian Lamb at 01822 841309 before midnight on November 6.