THOUSANDS of youngsters from across Yorkshire have been given a true glimpse of rural life.

For the third year running, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society is holding Countryside Days for children at its Harrogate showground.

Held for the first time in 2001, the event has become so popular that this year two days have been set aside to allow more than 2,500 youngsters from across Yorkshire to take part.

Children aged from seven to 11 converged on the showground on Tuesday and yesterday to take part in a range of activities, from weaving and stick making to dry stone walling and wood turning.

Also represented were the East Yorkshire Ferret Rescue Centre and the British Horse Racing Training Board.

Highlights included displays of working sheepdogs, bee-keeping, owls and hawks, arable farming and forestry.

Youngsters attending the event also exhibited model farm animals and birds they had designed and made using only waste materials.

The school with the best exhibits will be presented with a wooden bench at this year's Great Yorkshire Show, which runs from July 8 to 10.