CHILDREN of Cradley CE Primary School have been busy making, bottling and selling their own apple juice to raise much-needed funds.

The youngsters picked apples from the school garden, or brought them from home, and the Herefordshire-based Abbiss Drinks Company came to school to help staff and pupils juice the apples using the traditional press method.

The waste was taken away to be used as pig feed and the apple juices was taken away, bottled, pasteurized and brought back to the school.

Each child was asked to design a label for the bottles and one winner was selected from each class to use.

In all, 489 bottles were produced. All money raised will go to the Friends of Cradley School.

Teacher Liz George, who organised the project, thanked the children for their enthusiasm.

She said: "What a brilliant experience for the children. They were able to take part in the whole process of making juice – picking the apples, pressing them and designing the labels for the bottles. We can’t wait to make some more next year.”