I'M really impressed! For it seems that no matter how obscure the question, one or other of our knowledgeable readers comes up with an answer.

Regular customers may recall that I put in a personal appeal for any clues as to the variety of a gnarled old apple tree in my garden that bears edible fruit right into the New Year.

I inherited this when I moved into my present address 20 years ago and have been sampling winter apples - small, green and with a reddish blush - ever since.

Uncanny

Now Brian Orrell of Crow Lane West, Newton-le-Willows proffers a suggestion.

He writes: "Of course I cannot be certain, but the apple you described is uncannily like the one I also inherited, when I lived in Lincolnshire".

He'd at first thought it was a Cox's, which it looked like - but it proved uneatable until late December.

Brian mentioned this one day to the oldest inhabitant in the village, who'd replied: "Well, lad, no good will come of them apples until the frosts have a go. It's a Newton Wonder!"

H HOW strange that Brian should later end up actually living in a place called Newton! And I'm now wondering if the origins of the unusual apple variety had anything to do with that particular district.