ONE of the region's first agricultural shows since the latest foot-and-mouth outbreak has been hailed a success by organisers.

The 154th annual Sedgefield and District Agricultural and Horticultural Show took place in the County Durham village on Saturday.

Large livestock classes were expected to appear in the programme for the first time since 2000.

But just as it did in 2001, restrictions surrounding the foot-and-mouth alert in Surrey meant they had to be cancelled.

"It was a shame, but we still had a very successful show," said show ring steward David Brown.

"This was set to be the first time we had the livestock classes since the last outbreak.

"Because of the wet weather we've been having during some of the other shows, we were expecting a good turn-out, but of course it couldn't happen.

"The fine weather caught us out actually. Because this is the first decent dry spell we've had for a while, a lot of the show committee members are working the fields, so we've been running on a skeleton staff, but it's been a great success nonetheless."

Horses and ponies and the dog show and agility sections were among the highlights of the day, while horticulture, home and handicraft and small livestock tents gave local exhibitors a chance to present their work.

Horticulture secretary Amanda Sunter said: "We've had a bad year for roses, but apart from that it's been great.

"The quality of displays was fantastic, from the usual exhibitors to the youth classes".

Mr Brown said that regular visitors to the Robert Brown Showfield, in Sedgefield's West Park, can be sure that next year's show will go ahead.

"It's said show committees are like rabbits," he said."When the show is over, they disappear down their warrens and you don't see them again - but when it's time for next year's show, you can guarantee they'll all pop back up again and get on with their jobs."