VILLAGERS and rangers blessed their orchard by dancing around the apple trees with fire.

Slindon Estate's wassail follows the old English tradition to toast the village orchard to ensure a plentiful crop this coming autumn.

The annual apple harvest event sees Morris men, mummers villagers and National Trust rangers walk through the village with flaming torches. They then dance around apple trees in the village orchards, toast the coming apple crop and give thanks to last year's crop.