RESIDENTS in Penhill will soon be sinking their teeth into succulent pears, plums and cherries all carefully tended by their own green fingers.

Residents braved the January chill to plant 70 fruit trees in the Penhill Community Orchard at the weekend.

The saplings are the latest addition to the orchard, which was on planted on disused allotments earlier this year with cash from the Lottery.

The orchard already boasts 50 different varieties of apple trees, and next month strawberry and gooseberry bushes are to be planted.

The idea is to encourage residents to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.

The volunteers who run the project suffered a blow last month when thieves broke into a storage shed and stole £1,000 worth of power tools.

The tools were not insured, and they are appealing for donations of equipment.

Anyone who can help replace the tools should call Marilyn Beale on 01793 331516.