A CHARITY is appealing for apples after this year’s sodden summer left it with no fruit for its annual apple day.

The Friends of Clervaux Trust, at Clow Beck Farm, in Croft, near Darlington, are desperate for apples to use at their fundraising day, which aims to demonstrate as many uses for an apple as possible, while raising money for the trust.

But the washout summer, which has seen English apple crops down by 27 per cent, has left the trust with no apples to use on the day.

Adrian Barlow, chief executive of the trade association, English Apples and Pears Ltd, said the heavy rain throughout April, May and June blighted this year’s apple crops.

Those months are crucial for fruit production as it is the time when the flowers on the trees are pollinated by insects, but the heavy rain saw a reduction in pollination as bees are not active in the rain.

Mr Barlow said: “It has been the worst year since 1997 for apple crops, when they were ruined by frost.

“The warm weather in March has also caused the trees to wake up early and so then they couldn’t cope with the unseasonably cool temperatures through the summer.

“The rain and hail throughout summer also meant the apples that did manage to grow didn’t grow very big.”

Karen Chaytor, a member of the Friends, said they are desperate for apples to turn into juice, and other apple products. She said: “We would be grateful if anybody can spare any apples so we can raise money to continue the great work of the Clervaux Trust.”

The trust works with young people from the Darlington area to improve their job opportunities and help them contribute to the local community.

To donate apples drop them off at Clow Beck Farm, in Jolby Lane, Croft.

The apple day will take place at the farm on Saturday from 11am until 3pm.

Entry is £3 for adults and £1 for under-12s. All money raised will go to the Clervaux Trust.