CRAFTSMEN have been hard at work building kennels for the new competitive Harrier hounds classes to be held at one of the country’s biggest agricultural shows.

The Harriers will be based in the new Hound Show area which is being created close to the existing Country Pursuits Area at the Great Yorkshire Showground, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

The show runs from July 14 to 16 and is one of the premier countryside events on the UK calendar.

The Yorkshire Agricultural Society's president, Michael Bannister of Coniston Hall, near Skipton, has been a master of the Harrier hounds for 35 years.

He said he was delighted competitive classes for the breed were being introduced.

“The hound show is a long-established feature of the Great Yorkshire Show and we are delighted to have the opportunity to introduce Harriers to the event this year,” he said.

“We hope they will become a regular feature on our programme.

“Moving the hounds down to the country pursuits area made perfect sense, and the new area will be a natural focus for countryside and field sport activities.”

Some 65 kennels are currently being made by staff at the Showground, led by joiner David Atkinson.

Last year, more than 125,000 visitors attended the show, including the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

For more information, visit greatyorkshireshow.co.uk