Almost 3,000 litres of fruit juice has been produced from leftover apples at Rainham Community Orchard.

The five acre plot at the bottom of Bloors Lane saw more then 1.6 tonnes of apples picked by local people this autumn and the fruit that was left has been turned into juice.

Crates of the fruit were taken to Owl House Fruit Farm in Lamberhurst for juicing where 2,800 litre bottles were made – 960 from Cox apples and 1,860 from Russets.

The man behind the project, Hamish Mackay Miller, said: “Owlet Fruit Juices have won many awards so we are expecting an excellent quality product. They have a shelf life of two years.”

The project started in 2014, after landowner Jimmy Zammit donated the overgrown plot to the community to run as a productive orchard and wildlife habitat.

Mr Zammit considered clearing the trees when he bought the land as the fruit had not been cultivated for several years and the site had become almost unmanageable.

But first he spoke to Mr Mackay Miller, who suggested it could be run as a community orchard.

Mr Mackay Miller, who is also a Kent Wildlife Trust ambassador, said: “Since then a dedicated band of volunteers has put in many hours clearing nettles, thistles and then pruning during the winter. As a result the whole of the orchard is now accessible, producing much more fruit and the variety of wildlife is increasing.”

After a busy pick-you-own season in October, volunteers are now hard at work preparing the 5,000 trees for next year.

The community orchard juice costs £3 per bottle and can be bought from the orchard between 10am and noon on Tuesdays and Thursday.

It is also available from Cartridge World, Tollgate Lane, Strood, Century Residential, Gillingham High Street, The Net, Saracen Close, Gillingham Business Park and in shops in Gravesend, Sittingbourne, Milton Regis and Faversham.

All profits will be donated to Kent Wildlife Trust.

To find out about volunteering at the orchard, visit www.thenet.uk.net, email orchard@thenet.uk.net or call 01634 310011.