THE world-famous Worcester Pearmain apple is making a comeback after falling out of favour for around 20 years.

Connoisseurs appreciate the sweet, crisp, juicy quality of Worcester's own apple during its short season from the end of August to late September.

And it is beginning to appear in some supermarkets, as they become increasingly interested in tapping sources of local produce.

Sainsbury, Safeway, Tesco and the Co-op all plan to stock the Worcester Pearmain during the next few weeks.

Found in the market garden of William Hales, of Swan Pool, St John's, Worcester, in 1872, the brilliantly-coloured apple was named and marketed by Richard Smith and received a first class certificate from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1875.

In those days, Richard Smith's nurseries covered 157 acres, with 18 miles of walkways, stretching from Bransford Road to Lower Wick.

Today, the biggest county grower is Broomfields, with fruit farms at Cutnall Green and Holt Heath, selling directly from its farm shop, besides supplying Safeway, Morrisons and wholesale markets.

"We have been growing Worcesters for 75 or 80 years. My grandfather planted the first trees just after the First World War," said Colin Broomfield.

"It's a pretty reliable cropper and we have an excellent crop this time."

He believes the apple fell out of favour because some growers tended to put it on the market too early, in order to command the highest prices.

"They were being picked before they had developed their full flavour and that's probably why they lost their popularity," he said.

"Also, supermarkets were not flexible enough to stock English apples for their short season, but I think the tide is turning."

Pick-your-own Worcester Pearmains are now ready at Clive's Fruit Farm, near Upton-upon-Severn, and the English-grown apples should soon be available from some county greengrocers.

"A lot of our elderly customers like the traditional English apple and we normally stock them," said Greg Bairstow, of Cranham Drive Fruit Stores, Warndon.

"We try to keep to local growers where we can, although the Worcester apples we have at the moment are from Sussex."

Andy Llewellyn, manager of Housewives Choice, Angel Place, also said English apples were more popular with older buyers, while younger people preferred the larger foreign varieties.

SOME of the dozens of varieties of British apples grown locally, described by Colin Broomfield.

Cox's Orange Pippins: Sweet, with a rich, intense, aromatic flavour.

Discovery: Produced by crossing Worcester Pearmain with Beauty of Bath. Crisp and rosy.

Egremont Russet: Rusty brown skins and a distinctive nutty flavour.

Jupiter: Large apples with a flavour similar to Cox's and a crisper texture.

Kidd's Orange: Red, with brown mottling. Not the best looking apple, but with a flavour out of this world.

Ashmead Kernel: Slightly similar to a russet, with a reddish brown flush on one side and a full, rich flavour.

Jonagold and Jonagored: The same apple, gold or crimson. Light, crisp and full of juice.

Worcester Pearmain: Sweet and red, with white flesh that produces a delicious white, almost translucent juice.

English apples with the best keeping qualities: Bramley cooking apples (12 months) and Crispin, for eating or cooking (nine months).