Whether it was pouring rain or sunshine, it didn’t seem to matter to the 35,000 people who poured in for the first day of the Great Yorkshire Show.

Greeted by 8,500 animals, from beefy cattle huge horses and curly tailed pigs, visitors got a unique taste of the countryside and farming.

Arguably England’s biggest agricultural show, this is the 164th edition - and it’s more popular than ever. All the tickets for the four day event have already been sold out.

Exhibitors come from all corners of the country, bringing the very best of Britain’s livestock to compete for the many trophies and cups. But it’s also a celebration of food, machinery and the latest approaches to farming.

Celebrities on day one included Matt Baker and Adam Henson from Countryfile talking to MP’s and meeting the crowds. It’s also a huge shopping opportunity with the chance to buy everything from combine harvesters to cheese and honey.

The Northern Echo: Livestock classes attract many of the visitors to the Great Yorkshire ShowLivestock classes attract many of the visitors to the Great Yorkshire Show (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Show Director Charles Mills said the first day had been a big success, despite driving rain at one point forcing everyone undercover - all except singer Lizzie Jones, a former Inspirational Woman of the Year for her charity work, who was entertaining the crowds in the main ring after bringing out her brolly so she could carry on singing in the rain.

Mr Mills added: “It’s been wonderful, everyone seems very happy. And it’s the people who make it.

"I’ve been talking to exhibitors and the visitors and they love being here. I think people are more interested in what is going on in agriculture and the countryside and they want to see it for themselves.

“It does surprise me, sometimes before the show I worry will it work? but we have a great team, we have more than 500 volunteer stewards and people just want to be here. And we are so thankful for their support.”

The Northern Echo: Organisers rated the first day of the show a great successOrganisers rated the first day of the show a great success (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

For many farmers and agricultural workers it is their holiday and a chance to meet people they haven’t seen since last year.

For Longhorn breeders the Blockley family, whose bull Southfield Uproar carried off the male champion rosette, it was a poignant day. David and his wife Angela had started breeding the cattle in 1991, but sadly Angela died last year.

“This is a tribute to Diane and it means a lot,” said David.

“I have been coming to the show since I was a child, and we always came with the Longhorns - there are around 30 relatives and friends meeting up. It’s a pilgrimage that’s what it is.”

The Northern Echo: The rain didn't put of visitors, who turned up in their thosands - many, like these two, came prepared for the conditionsThe rain didn't put of visitors, who turned up in their thosands - many, like these two, came prepared for the conditions (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Alongside the thousands of animals are the exhibitors and traders. Sheep farmer Sarina Dean was showing her handcrafted clothes many made from sheepwool collected on their farm, near Ampleforth.

The company Galijah, named after her two young sons Gabriel and Elijah, was demonstrating its wares at the Sheep to Chic fashion show. Most of the clothes are made and designed by Sarina and her mother Pattie on sewing machines at their farm.

She said: “It wonderful to be here - we are a farming family and we wanted to go down the route of making the clothes from our own wool.

"It is a long process but it is worthwhile, and it is so important to us that we use what we have in Yorkshire."

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The Duke of Gloucester was the Royal visitor at the show. As a farmer himself, Mr Mills said he was delighted to be shown round the showground and was particularly interested in the new innovations on display.

“It has been an amazing first day," added Mr Mills.

"We’re looking forward to the rest of the week - we owe a lot to the people who had the foresight to buy this 240 acre site in the heart of Harrogate so we could carry on staging this event, and we are truly grateful to the people who come and support us."

The Northern Echo: It's along day for some animals, so a well-earned rest is in orderIt's along day for some animals, so a well-earned rest is in order (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)