IT was a dismal day, grey, overcast and raining - but in the end it didn't matter.

The Great Yorkshire Show lived up to its name by shrugging off the elements and the disaster that was 2001 to bounce back in spectacular form.

Last year's show, the premier event in the North's agricultural calendar, had to be cancelled as foot-and-mouth disease held the region firmly in its grip.

But this year, the threat had receded - although the spectre of the farming catastrophe was never far away.

The show is one of the few that has livestock classes this summer and bio-security measures were strictly in force yesterday, with disinfectant mats and an ingenious pedestrian channelling system preventing any risk of contamination, however slight.

Not surprisingly the number of animals at the show was down on 2000, when more than 10,000 competed across the classes. However, there were still about 8,500 horses, cows, sheep and pigs, all carefully prepared to competitive standards.

Visitor numbers, while still noticeably down on previous years, picked up during the day - with sellers of brollies and plastic macs doing a roaring trade - turning the showground's wide avenues into a sea of bright colours.

As usual, part of the attraction of the show lay outside the main rings.

The huge flower and food halls were busy for much of the day - and not just with people getting out of the rain.

Among the firsts for this year's event was a cheese show, back after 40 years and giving producers from across the region a chance to show off the best of their products.

It provided one of TV's original Mr Nasties - Emmerdale's Eric Pollard, alias actor Chris Chittell - a chance to show his nice side as one of the judges.

Other visitors to the show yesterday included food and farming minister Lord Whitty and a National Farmers Union president - and Easingwold farmer - Ben Gill.