A BUMPER crop of apples last year has led to a group of volunteers from Kirkbymoorside crafting a new cider.

The Kirkby Fruit Project are a group who gather and use surplus fruit from the town's many orchards, turn it into various products, and give any money they make to local causes.

Now they have produced a crisp new drink, labelled 'KirkbymoorCider', which is officially ready, having been fermenting away all winter.

One of the group's volunteers, Chris Simmonds, said: "It's lovely. Very palatable, light and refreshing. It's got a clear, amber colour. Perfect for summer."

The group have produced just over 400 bottles in total. The drink is 6 per cent dry cider, and there's a few bottles of "live" sparkling cider as well. It's created from 100 per cent apple juice, unlike some commercial ciders, which can contain as little as 35 per cent.

Launch day for the cider is to be May 1, the day of the Beadlam Tractor Run, the Kirkby 10k and the Tour de Yorkshire - "the perfect storm of everything happening at once," Mrs Simmonds said. "It just came together beautifully for the first of May."

The Fruit Project will have a stall in the Market Place by the TdY big screen.

The group of 20 volunteers normally sell their wares in two local Kirkbymoorside shops. After costs for things like juicing equipment - although they hope to be self-sufficient within six years - they give any profits made to local causes.

Last year, everyone from the cricket club and the brass band to Cubs, a history group and Kirkbymoorside-in-Bloom got a donation.

The group plan to continue their fruit-saving efforts and may produce more cider next year.

Kirkbymoorside has a significant fruit-growing heritage which the group are keen to save, by rescuing surplus fruit and taking cuttings from existing trees to create "daughter" trees.

For more information, go to kirkbyfruitproject.wordpress.com.