A Wiltshire community orchard committee have found a rare type of apple after sending out an SOS appeal for help from local people.

The Marlborough Community Orchard Committee, which is led by Philippa Davenport, recently started a quest to find old varieties of Wiltshire apple and last week discovered one called the Celt.

The apple was originally raised during the Second World War by David Harris from Melksham.

Miss Davenport said: “We really wanted to track down the Celt, which we believed could be in and around the Melksham area, so we thought we’d send out this SOS call to see if someone can help us find it.”

The orchard at Corsham Primary School which grows the Celt was planted around a year ago and finding it has pleased the group.

Mrs Davenport said: “This discovery is marvellous news and is certainly of interest. The pieces are starting to join up and it looks like we’ve got some Celt at the kindergarten stage.”

The group, who believe there are 10 varieties of Wiltshire apples, were inspired to track them down following the discovery of the Mary Barnett apple, which was originally raised in Steeple Ashton in the 1920s.

Once all the old varieties have been discovered the group would like to take cuttings which can be grafted and grown to develop their orchard project.

Head Gardener at Lacock Abbey Sue Carter has offered her support to the committee’s campaign.

She said: “It is a great idea by the Marlborough Community Orchard Committee and it would be nice to keep these old varieties of apples going.”

To contact Miss Davenport, call 01672 512949.