A WOMAN who started a successful cider-making business ‘by chance’ is selling up - after 30 years.

Jill Gillman grew her business at Torre Farm in Washford from nothing, and giving up has been a difficult decision.

In fact the 70-year-old has been mulling it over for some time now.

“I’m giving it up because I’m old now and I have been doing it for a long time,” said Jill.

“There are certain aspects of the job that are really laborious and just can’t really do it anymore.”

Jill’s cider-making business started by chance, after setting up a successful pick-your-own-fruit farm.

“Thirty years ago, this was just a farm and a field, but bad weather set me back, but visitors always seem to ask me where they could get ‘scrumpy’,” said Jill - ‘scrumpy’ is a rough, strong cider which is traditionally produced from the orchards in the West Country.

“So I just sort of I got hold of 12 tonnes of fruit, hired a press and I just started making it.”

The gamble paid off because within ten weeks of making the first cider the entire batch was sold out.

“It just seems to have gone from strength to strength.”

Nowadays, Jill’s self-sufficient farm produces around 25,000 litres of cider for her range of Howzat, Sheep Stagger and Tornado, as well as making apple juice and cider vinegar.

Jill has also built up a farm shop business and a tearoom.

She said: “Cider seems to be really fashionable at the moment and I love working with the team, but I just think I need to give it up.

"I'll miss it!"

Contact Green Slade Taylor Hunt. If you were interested in finding out more about the sale of Torre Valley Farm, you can contact Duncan Brown at Green Slade Taylor Hunt on 01823-334455 or visit the offices at 9 Hammet Street, Taunton