A fruit packaging company has donated three fruit trees to a north Essex school.

Peake Fruit, based in Ardleigh, gave the Laxton apple trees to Langham Primary School and helped to plant the old variety aided by the school’s Eco Team.

As well as encouraging healthy eating, and getting youngsters to eat more fruit, the scheme aims to bring back species of English apple which are falling out of favour.

To help with this the company has committed to planting heritage orchards.

Dan Perkins, group finance manager, said: “The pupils were all excited and very knowledgeable about fruit, their life-cycle and what they need to grow.

“The trees are in perfectly good hands – they will have a good home and there will be plenty of apples to go around for the schoolchildren.”

The giveaway is part of a wider initiative being taken by the Boxford Group, a collective of companies based in north Essex and south Suffolk which have come together to help community groups in their area.