Nightmare for fruit farmers

FRUIT farmers in the Tonbridge area this week warned that the "nightmarish" summer weather could reduce this year's apple crop by half.

And cherries are likely to be even worse hit, according to Golden Green farmer Mike Hibbs, who said a dry spring followed by weeks of cold, wind and rain had left him with nothing to harvest from five acres of orchards.

Describing the situation as a "nightmare", he said: "The weather has affected crops immensely. This is the worst season we've ever known."

Full story page 5