A BANK HOLIDAY show that attracted massive support in the 1940s was revived at the weekend.

The Shildon Show was once one of the biggest and most popular annual events in the former railway town.

However, the tradition died in the 1940s, when the park railings were taken away to be smelted to provide metal for the war effort.

Without park turnstiles where visitors could be charged the festival was discontinued.

But the leader of Sedgefield Borough Council, Councillor Brian Stephens, who helped to organise the revival show yesterday, said the success of the event had paved the way for more in future years.

He said: "The Shildon Show was once a very big show, it went on for the whole bank holiday."

Claire Coverdale, from Spennymoor, saw how popular the show had been when she was presented with two gold and silver medals by her great-grandfather, Joseph Watkinson. He won them for baking the best white loaf and the best rice cake in two competitions he entered about 100 years ago.

The medals were part of a display of trophies and photographs from previous shows at the event.

Adult winners of a fun run yesterday received gold watches, while mountain bikes were presented to the junior winners. There was also a falconry display, entertainers and a sell-out Juke Box Jive show at Sunnydale Leisure Centre.

Proceeds from the event, sponsored by Awards for All lottery money and local companies, will go to the Butterwick Hospice in Bishop Auckland and to fund more shows.