THE new home for a traditional country show has passed its first test with flying colours.

Herrington Country Park, in the shadow of Penshaw Monument, just off the A183 Chester-le-Street to Sunderland road, opened for the weekend of this year's Durham County Show.

Good weather and the attractive setting, on the reclaimed former Herrington Colliery site, attracted bumper crowds to the revived show, cancelled last year due to the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

The 53,000 turn-out was double the figure expected, and well in excess of recent years' attendance at Washington's Northern Area Playing Fields and previously at nearby Lambton Park, in Burnmoor.

Organisers were delighted with the venue and have now confirmed the park as the setting for next year's show.

Show secretary Christine Duke said it was "a hugely successful debut" for the country park, and pledged that the 2003 event would be "even bigger and better".

"We were amazed and delighted at the turn out this year," said Ms Duke.

"Thousands of people turned up, we had hundreds of entries in our competitions, and everyone said they would be coming back next year with their friends."

Last month's event attracted more than 500 entries in the horse show and show jumping contests, while 300 birds were displayed in various categories in the poultry show and almost 1,000 dogs were put through their paces in the canine competitions.

"We'll see a return of the full Durham County Show in all its traditional glory, at a great new venue which will provide it's new home for generations," she said.

Next year's show has been pencilled in for the weekend of July 12 and 13.