KENT cherry growers are fighting hard to ensure that this traditional fruit is grown in the county for future generations.

Around 85.5 per cent of the cherries produced in England and Wales are grown in Kent and East Sussex.

One of the Kent growers leading by example is John Leigh-Pemberton, the new chairman of the NFU Cherry and Soft Fruit Show, held over the three days of the Kent County Show.

Mr Leigh-Pemberton grows 60 acres of cherries on the family's Torry Hill Estate at Doddington, near Sittingbourne, and is planning more.

He said: "As growers, we can compete on quality and price, but we can't supply the demand. The season is short, with harvesting mainly in July, so we want to extend our season into August."

Research currently being conducted at the Horticulture Research International at East Malling aims to achieve that goal, he said.

Organisers of the show have been encouraging strawberry growers to put more entries into the competitions this year.

"There has been a big increase in strawberry growing in Kent recently. We have been getting new exhibitors ringing us up and we want more of them," explained Mr Leigh-Pemberton.

Nearly a quarter of the entire strawberry crop of England and Wales is now grown in Kent and East Sussex.