Did you think our April Fool's story was rotten to the core?

Here's how it panned out...

A visit to your local pub is about to become even more ap-peel-ing, thanks to a novel idea from an amusements firm.

Ivor Thomas Amusements hopes to help boozers battle the bulge with a gaming machine that rewards punters with real fruit!

Managing director Paul Thomas dreamt up the invention with pal Keith Clare, who used to run a fruit and veg shop.

He said from the firm's Grange Road, Ramsgate site: "Lifestyle changes have meant pubs are now serving healthy food.

"I suddenly thought, why not adapt our old fruit machines to vend real fruit and go with the trend?"

"We decided to tweak the old Jennings one-armed bandits to add a bit of nostalgia and create a focal point in pubs.

"It's taken nearly six months, but we’ve finally managed to get them to work. They take 10p coins and vend oranges, lemons, pears and cherries."

Keith, who now runs several pubs in the Ramsgate area, says it’s been a real hit with his locals.

He added: "When Paul said he was going to convert an old one-armed bandit, I didn’t think for a moment he was serious – I thought it was the beer talking!"

The firm has already had more than 40 orders for the latest offering.

But don't get the pip... the last one must be sold by midday today as they don't conform with a new law that's coming onto the statute books.