THE ancient custom of wassailing was revived at a special event in Eastwood over the weekend.

The mental health charity Trust Links, which looks after St Laurence Orchard in Eastwood, revived the tradition at an event last year, but it proved so popular the charity decided to hold another wassailing event at the orchard on Sunday.

Special wassail songs were sung and bread was placed in the trees, while folk singer Kiti Theobald and local musicians performed in the orchard and led the singing.

The word ‘wassail’ means 'good health’ and there was a drink Wassail, which was originally a spicy drink made of mulled ale, apples and eggs.

Wassailing began as a way to ensure a good, healthy crop, to wake the trees in an orchard and scare away evil spirits.