APPLES should be in abundance at Chawton House this year after a successful Wassail celebration on Saturday night.

Participants toasted its apple trees and then shouted away evil spirits to have a good harvest.

Clio O’Sullivan, from Chawton House, said: “The Kings Pond Shantymen sang traditional Wassail songs and the procession was led by myself in the guise of Wassail Queen.”

Her duties also included blessing the oldest apple tree in Chawton House’s orchard.

She added: “It’s a weird and wonderful tradition dating back to the medieval period.”