YOUNGSTERS were given the chance to milk a model cow, grade eggs and take a computerised cowpat challenge as part of a food and farming roadshow.

The roadshow, run by the National Farmers Union, is designed to help children find out more about British produce.

It was outside Northallerton Town Hall all day to publicise its message and youngsters flocked to the trailer to try their hand at the different games and meet some of the five-day-old chicks on show.

The cowpat challenge was one of the most popular activities.

It asks children 15 questions about milk and if they get four wrong, their computerised alter ego gets covered in cow muck.

The roadshow was hosted by West Yorkshire farmer Jonny Ball, who is spending five and a half months visiting 150 towns and cities across the UK to raise the profile of British food and promote the little red tractor logo, which denotes British produce.

Mr Ball said: "We have had a fantastic response and have been inundated with children. The British public are very supportive of British farming.

He said the roadshow would have two positive effects: "We are getting the message across to adults about the little red tractor logo and educating children about British farming."

The roadshow went to visit Scarborough seafront yesterday, and will be in Darlington Market Place today and the Haymarket, Newcastle, tomorrow.