An apple and pear grower is looking to recruit more than 500 seasonal workers for this year’s harvest.

AC Goatham & Son, which grows about 150 million apples each year, is hiring for its first batch of 75 to 100 full time jobs in May to thin its fruit trees across its orchards mainly in Medway and Swale.

It will then take on about 400 pickers from August to November to work at its 17 farms and 20 partner farms across the county.

It will have vacancies at its packhouse on Flanders Farm in Hoo for 55 staff from September to next May.

HR manager Gayle Goatham said: “We have a significant number of seasonal, full time jobs available and we are looking for people with a variety of skills to join the team.

“Many people join over the summer months and stay on for as long as possible, moving from role to role.

“We are looking for people who are physically fit, flexible, as the teams work in shifts and will enjoy working both inside and outside, in all weather.

“This is hard work but financially rewarding and many people have gone on to other senior roles within the organisation, who started off as part of the picking or packing team several years ago.”