A VILLAGE produce show has been saved after residents rallied round to enter the various classes.

Organisers of the event at Melsonby, near Richmond, on Saturday said the future of the show rested on the support shown for this year's competition.

Falling entries over recent years, which led to an all-time low last summer, meant the event was running at a loss.

Avril Proudlock, secretary of Melsonby Allotment Association, warned in March that the event would be the last if it was not better supported.

She said: "The tables of exhibits were much fuller than last year and we had to put up a separate tent for the vegetables because the flowers, handicrafts and baking filled the tables in the hall.

"I want to thank everybody who entered the show this year. Their efforts mean that there will definitely be a show in 2008, when we hope that even more people will enter."

The show was first held in 1951 and attracted entries from allotment holders and other local people.

Some of the traditional classes were replaced by new categories, including a computer generated picture and photography, to bring the event into the 21st Century, but traditional classes such as home baking, preserves and handicrafts continued.

Mrs Proudlock particularly praised children from the village who entered a variety of classes, including baking and handicrafts.

The village school supported the show by encouraging pupils to enter and inviting Mrs Proudlock to give them hints on exhibiting.

Brothers Ronan and James Donoghue took the top awards in the children's handicraft section, with Ronan winning the championship trophy and James securing the reserve place.

It was also a family affair in the youngsters' baking section, where Rebecca Smith won the championship cup and her sister, Rachael, was reserve champion.

In the open classes, onions exhibited by Vince Elrington took the trophy for best exhibit in show, while the novice shield went to first time exhibitor Linda Hall.

Produce was auctioned at the end of the afternoon at the show venue, the school canteen in Moor Road. Allotment holders also donated prizes for a raffle.