It's not just fruit and vegetables that grow in the Victorian kitchen garden of one of the West's most elegant hotels… home-grown loofahs are keeping the bathrooms well-stocked too.

In a classic case of you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours, Ston Easton Park, near Wells, invited people to help with the Palladian mansion's loofah harvest in return for learning more about the versatile vines.

The loofah days have proved so successful that all three are fully booked, and more will be held again next year.

Loofahs, when used as back scrubs, are the dried skeleton of the fruit of a vine that belongs to the cucumber family. The annual climber originates from sub-tropical Asia and needs a temperature of 25ºC to 30ºC for propagation and 20C during its growing season.

Ston Easton Park's head gardener Dorian Poole said: "In some countries they are used for culinary purposes, as well as scouring pads in the kitchen.

"The fruit have to be picked before the frost gets to them. They need to be hung up to dry for a couple of weeks, or soaked in water for a day, and peeled, and there is your loofah.

"It should then be squeezed under running water to flush out the seeds and if preferred washed in a mild solution of bleach to whiten it. Lastly it should be put in a pillowcase and put into a washing machine on a gentle wash; the pillowcase makes sure that any seeds left inside don't get into the machine.

"It's important then to dry it thoroughly, and to make sure it dries out between uses. We have about 70 loofahs to harvest and I'm still using one I picked two years ago." Loofahs need to be grown in greenhouses or conservatories and are happy in soil, growbags, or containers.

Ston Easton prides itself on growing its own food and more than 75 per cent of the vegetables, salads and herbs used in its meals are grown on site.

This year the hotel is a key supporter of the Mendip Food and Drink Festival which takes place between Friday, October 24 and Sunday, November 2.

The festival is also being boosted by support from awarding-winning TV chef Martin Blunos, from Bath.

Ston Easton is hosting an apple day cookery demonstration, two-course apple inspired lunch with cider from the Gaymer Cider Company followed by a talk by Bob Chaplin and Bob Cork from Gaymer starting at 10.30am on October 28.

Ian Jupp, manager of Ston Easton Park, said: "The festival features events to cater for all tastes at numerous locations throughout Mendip.

"Whether you are seeking a sophisticated gourmet dining experience, an organic afternoon tea at a farm shop or ways to entertain and educate the children about great British food, the festival is sure to satisfy your requirements.

"We have planned some great ways to celebrate the festival and hope to see you here at Ston Easton Park."

Mendip Food and Drink Festival programmes are available free at local Tourist Information Centres.