A ROAD crash cast a shadow over one of the region's biggest agricultural shows at the weekend.

Five catering workers were injured in the accident, which happened at a road junction while they were travelling to Stokesley Show, in North Yorkshire.

Four needed hospital treatment - one for a suspected broken collar bone, two for cracked ribs and the others for bumps, cuts and shock.

The incident happened as the employees came off the Parkway trunk road and crossed over a road junction to reach the showfield.

"They came into work, but they were shaken and not well at all," said Barry Wilson, who runs The Willows Catering Company with business partner Stewart Bowes. "Four went off to hospital."

Mr Bowes said: "We are extremely thankful it was not worse than it was."

There was an apology from the top table as queues built up at the carvery in the VIP tent. One of the guests was Teesdale television celebrity Hannah Hauxwell.

Committee members, stewards and farmers mucked in to help collect dirty dishes from the tables.

An unexpected burst of autumn sunshine brought out show visitors - and wasps - in their thousands.

St John Ambulance Commissioner Chris Russell said volunteers were "inundated" with people wanting treatment for wasp stings.

They also rendered first aid to a person knocked over by a horse.

There were over 500 horses and ponies at the Stokesley Agricultural Society's 129th show.