ASPALL, the world's oldest surviving commercial cyder maker, is turning back the clock nearly three centuries in a bid to drive growth in the 21st century.

ASPALL, the world's oldest surviving commercial cyder maker, is turning back the clock nearly three centuries in a bid to drive growth in the 21st century.

Aspall, based near Debenham, is investing more than £50,000 in a new filling and bottling plant.

The plant was due to be installed in the firm's original cyder house today.

The cyder house dates back to 1728 and still contains the original press and stone trough used by the Chevallier family to produce their cyder.

The house only ceased production in 1974 and since then has remained virtually untouched.

And now the company is looking to give the building a new lease of life by installing new equipment which will increase output threefold.

This is the latest in a series of significant investments by Aspall. Earlier this year, the company ploughed more than £100,000 into a new tank farm to increase fermentation and storage capacity.

Aspall Sales and Marketing Director Barry Chevallier Guild said: "Despite mass market cyders experiencing tough market conditions, our premium products are going from strength to strength.

And in a final twist, the company is having to remove the roof of its 275 year old cyder house to enable a giant crane to install the new equipment.