THE village of Cheriton Fitzpaine held its third annual Wassailing evening on Saturday, January 19, and it was a colourful, noisy and fun experience for all those who went along.

Everyone gathered outside in the courtyard of the Ring of Bells where the Master of Ceremonies crowned Emma Cliff-Duffield as Wassail Queen and her daughter, Thora (7), as Wassail Princess.

The arrival of the Mummers Drummers, complete with a version of the “Wicker Man” was a spectacle and there were many shouts of “Wassail”.

There were performances by the Great Western Morris and this included dances with all the children present.

There were many people in costume, including three witches, the Lord of Misrule and the Green Man.

Most people took along pots and pans and other items to make lots of noise to later frighten away the evil spirits from the apple trees in Jack’s Acre.

There was a procession from the pub to Jack’s Acre, the playing field in the village, where apple trees were planted last year.

The event included a fire-eater, cider and apple juice tasting and from 9pm, performances from the band “The Woodmen” in the Ring of Bells Cyder Barn until late.