The recent fine, warm weather has brought an early bumber crop of strawberries.

Producers say customers are now reaping the benefits of the surprise harvest which has filled supermarket shelves with local fresh fruit.

Paul Kelsey, from Quaives Farm in Wickhambreaux, helped deliver the first batch of Jubilee strawberries to stores this week, around two weeks earlier than usual.

He said: "The warm spell this spring means we’ll be able to get a greater volume out on to the shelves quicker. Our growing period is longer than most producers so we’re set for a record-breaking year.

"The weather has gone from the sublime to the ridiculous. We had hardly any dry spells during winter and lots of snow. Since March, we’ve hardly had any break in the sunshine.

"But our strawberries have only ripened a couple of days earlier than last year. More sunshine means the natural sugars in the fruit develop quicker and in turn that makes for a sweeter taste."

The heart-shaped Jubilee strawberries were this week wending their way from Quaives Farm to supermarket shelves at Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Asda.

Concerns a dry summer might affect other crops have been dismissed by Paul, who is also chairman of Berry Gardens.

He added: "Starting earlier with the picking doesn’t have any adverse effect, it just means people can buy local soft fruit for a longer time. Our raspberry crops are set to be picked in the next couple of weeks and that’s also about two or three weeks earlier than normal."