A LANDMARK chapter in the glorious history of the Great Yorkshire Show - and British farming as a whole - was written yesterday.

Despite intensive bio-security precautions across the showground and ever-changing weather, the 144th annual spectacular was hailed as one of the best ever.

Final figures are expected to show that nearly 120,000 people visited the Great Yorkshire Showground over three days, dispelling fears that last year's foot-and-mouth crisis could have had a negative impact on the event.

The 2000 show drew a massive crowd of 120,645 visitors but the cancellation of last year's farming showpiece was seen as a hammer blow.

Nigel Pulling, chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, which organises the show, said the public support throughout this week had been overwhelming.

"We are very pleased with the way it has gone. There have been fewer animals of course, which is sad, but it has been a chance for the farming community to get together again and it's been a great atmosphere," he said.

"They didn't have this opportunity last year and the show has provided a real hope for the future for them."

The last day saw Radio Four's popular Woman's Hour programme - presented by Jenni Murray - broadcast live from the Harrogate arena's new fashion and art pavilion.

Against a backdrop of noise from the adjacent poultry building, award-winning writer Kay Mellor, Last of the Summer Wine actress Kathy Staff and author of Chocolat, Joanne Harris, were among the celebrities to discuss their careers and their pride in being Yorkshire women.

A recent poll revealed Ms Staff to be the white rose county's woman of the year, despite originally coming from Cheshire.

"It just shows the generosity of Yorkshire people," she quipped.

Outside, thousands lined the avenues, viewed the stalls and watched the action in the main ring, helping to restore much-needed confidence in the stricken farming industry.

School parties helped swell the visitor numbers and a hectic day concluded with the Food and Farming Challenge, an event which set pupils a range of agricultural tasks.