SHERSTON’S ‘Lady Marmalade’ Lin Prior has raised £500 for local groups and charities this year by selling home-made preserves.

Mrs Prior, 71, filled 192 jars during the brief window open for marmalade making several months ago.

A few days ago she only had two jars left – and one of those had been reserved and was awaiting collection.

“They’ve sold pretty much through word-of-mouth,” said Mrs Prior, a Sherston resident for 33 years.

“People seem to like it. For me it’s been really nice to have been able to donate the proceeds to some very good local charities and organisations.”

Mrs Prior has been making marmalade for as long as she can remember. Her mother made it, as did her grandmother.

Around four or five years ago she decided to sell some of her marmalade in aid of charities such as the Macmillan Cancer Support and has been doing so ever since, raising more than £1,000 for numerous groups and causes.

Using Seville oranges, she can only make marmalade for a few weeks in January and February, just after the fruit is harvested and before it ‘goes off’.

Working intensely at home to a musical backdrop of Classic FM, she turned out almost twice as much as usual this year.

Using oranges, sugar, water and lemon in a recipe she doesn’t wish to divulge she said: “It can be a very relaxing pastime.”

Mrs Prior has sold her jars at a table she sets up outside the village post office, as well as at Sherston’s monthly market and other village events.

“I have about three sizes of jars which I sell for between £2.80 and £3.”

She usually donates the proceeds after every £100 raised and this year the beneficiaries have been the 1016 group which helps many local causes, Sherston Senior Club, Sherston Brownies, Sherston Village Hall (Building Fund) and Sherston Magna Cricket Club.

Does she leave any marmalade for herself. “Yes, I do quite like it with toast but I’m not a great breakfast eater,” she added.