HALLOWEEN celebrations in Buckland Monachorum were given a fruity twist with an apple evening at the Drake Manor Inn last Wednesday.

It is the second year a bramley apple evening in Buckland Monachorum has been held, following national apple week.

There was a bramley apple pie and a savoury apple dish competition, with organisers impressed with the extremely high standard of entries.

Successful cook in the bramley apple pie contest was Janet Randall — the savoury dish competition was won by Robin Armstrong, who prepared swordfish steak with spicy bramley apple relish.

Judges for the competition included Richard Pearce and Celia Steven, granddaughter of Mr Merryweather, the man who originally discovered the bramley seedling.

'It was a great success, the evening has become an annual event following the success this year and last year. Everyone had a jolly time,' said organiser Mandy Robinson.

Measuring the longest apple peel was another highlight of the evening, with Rob Monk taking the honours.

Meg Goodman won the fancy dress competition with her bat costume, while husband Roger Goodman adopted the phantom of the opera look.