Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4
Use a 900g/2 lb loaf tin.
Grease the loaf tin. Pour enough boiling water over the snipped apricots to cover. Allow to stand for 10 minutes. Drain well. Combine the apricots and the 3 tbs. of sugar. Sift together the flour, the brown sugar, the baking powder and salt. Mix the bran cereal, milk, sour cream, and oil. Add to the sifted ingredients, stirring till just moistened. Gently stir in apricot mixture. Turn into the loaf tin. Sprinkle top with a little additional sugar. Bake for about 1 hour. Test with a warm knife. leave to firm up in the tin for ten minutes, before turning out.
