There were smiles all round as the sun shone on the Trowbridge Apple Festival and more than 700 people of all ages crowded into Emmanuel’s Yard.

Organisers collected apples within a five-mile radius of Trowbridge over the last few weeks in readiness for Saturday's event.

A range of more than 60 varieties was on display despite this year’s crops being poor due to the weather in the spring when the trees were pollinated.

Wiltshire Times: Young Harrison works to crush apples to make apple juice with advice from Trowbridge Apple Festival organiser Mel Jacob. Photo: Trevor Porter 70270-3Young Harrison works to crush apples to make apple juice with advice from Trowbridge Apple Festival organiser Mel Jacob. Photo: Trevor Porter 70270-3 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Organiser Mel Jacob, of the Trowbridge BIG Community Grow project, said: “We were busy throughout the whole event and could not have fitted any more in.

“We had people from one year old all the way up to 80 years old, all taking part, all doing stuff and all getting involved, which to me is the great thing having the whole community represented.

“I met some children that I have done stuff through when they were really little and now they are proper tall teenagers, so that’s the nice thing, they want to come back and do it.

“We did a wishes and hopes tree this time and we asked people to write their wishes and hopes for the world and for the environment.

“We had lots of lovely little messages about how much they are enjoying apples and how we should look after the environment and plant trees, so that was nice to engage people with that.”

Wiltshire Times: Modern day William Tell: Milo Shepherdson attempts to shoot an apple off the head of a dummy. Photo: Trevor Porter 70270-13Modern day William Tell: Milo Shepherdson attempts to shoot an apple off the head of a dummy. Photo: Trevor Porter 70270-13 (Image: Trevor Porter)

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Visitors were able to take part in traditional games involving apples, including the ever-popular ‘William Tell’ archery competition inviting people to fire an arrow at an apple on the head of a dummy, and the longest-peel challenge.

The winner of the Great Apple Bake-off competition was Erin Disney, who claimed the title and the Mary Pearce Cup, donated by the former owner of Courtfield House where the festival was first held in 2012.

Wiltshire Times: Proud winner of the Great Apple Bake-off Erin Disney with the Mary Pearce Cup. Photo: Trevor Porter 70270-8Proud winner of the Great Apple Bake-off Erin Disney with the Mary Pearce Cup. Photo: Trevor Porter 70270-8 (Image: Trevor Porter)

The apple pie-making competition was judged by Trowbridge mayor Cllr Stephen Cooper.

Wiltshire Times: Trowbridge Mayor Cllr Stephen Cooper judges the apple pies at the Great Apple Bake-off competition. Photo: Trevor Porter 70270-7Trowbridge Mayor Cllr Stephen Cooper judges the apple pies at the Great Apple Bake-off competition. Photo: Trevor Porter 70270-7 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Free-to-enter activities included apple pressing and tasting, an apple marble run, apple crumble making, and conkers.

Visitors were able to browse a wide range of craft stalls, including wood-turning, basket-making with Geoff Travers, lantern-making for the Trowbridge Lantern Parade later this month, and printing by Trowbridge Museum volunteers.

Many visitors were able to sign up through Hayley Bell, of Trowbridge Town Council, for the Beat the Street keep fit challenge taking place over the next few weeks until November 1.