A STAR of the stage and screen has hinted at having made a recent move to Herefordshire after she was spotted at a county wassail.

Maxine Peake, who is known for her roles in Dinner Ladies, Shameless and Black Mirror among many other TV, movie and stage appearances, said on Instagram that she has been enjoying spending time in her ‘new neighbourhood’ in the county.

She has most recently been living in Salford, Manchester.

Ledbury Reporter: Maxine Peake is enjoying spending time in her 'new neighbourhood'.Maxine Peake is enjoying spending time in her 'new neighbourhood'.

The actress attended a traditional Herefordshire wassail at the Crown Inn in Dilwyn on January 6 and took to social media to express how much she enjoyed the event.

“My first wassail in the new neighbourhood," she said.

“A gorgeous evening with the Leominster Morris and a mummers play.

“The central character being St George, wherever I am, Palestine is never far from my thoughts.”

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Miss Peake saw a variety of local traditions on full display during the night, following a torch-lit procession from the pub to a nearby orchard wherein twelve bonfires were lit, symbolising the twelve months of the year and the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ.

After lighting the fires, a libation of the previous year’s cider and a cider-soaked Christmas pudding were offered to a tree in the hopes of encouraging a good yield of apples.

The audience was then encouraged to shout and scream in order to scare off the evil spirits of the orchard.

Two morris dances were then displayed before cups of cider were handed out to Miss Peake and her fellow onlookers, who returned to the pub to close off the evening with more dancing and a performance of the mummers play, a folk play depicting St George battling a variety of enemies who are slain and resurrected.