A POPULAR apple is being celebrated as Bramley apple week gets underway.

In celebration of the apple week, which started on Sunday and runs until this Saturday (February 8), various venues in West Devon have been using the apple as a highlight in their menus.

One of these venues is the Drake Manor Inn in Buckland Monachorum where new chef Richard Pearce has been serving up lots of Bramley apple-based treats.

Celia Steven, who is the great grand-daughter of the founder of the Bramley apple Henry Merryweather and who lives in Buckland Monachorum, is the driving force behind highlighting Bramley apple week in West Devon.

She said: 'Bramley week is to highlight the virtues of the nation's favourite culinary apple, the Bramley. Later on in the year I have been invited to assist Jonathan Macintosh from Plymouth University to develop a theme of food as a main centrepiece focus, and part of the Plymouth festival celebrating 400 years of trading with Japan. I am so pleased to be able to help due to my recent visit to Japan to see for myself what has been achieved, growing Bramleys in Obuse and planting a Bramley to mark the visit, and going to Tokyo to see how they present this classic piece of Britishness in stores, not to mention the British Embassy.'

The Japan Festival in Plymouth, from September 26 to October 4, will celebrate the historic and cultural links between the UK and Japan.

'Tavistock College Japanese teacher Crispin Chambers and chef Peter Gorton with their expertise will both be part of the festival,' said Celia.

'What a great way to welcome all visitors, especially the Japanese who are regular visitors to Tavistock, and expand everything into a celebration for everyone to take part in.'