ORGANISERS of a 170-year-old agricultural show said the weather proved to be their biggest attraction at the weekend as the attendance record was broken.

The 172nd Stanhope Agricultural Show took place on Saturday and yesterday at Unthank Park in Stanhope, County Durham, and attracted more than 3,000 people each day.

Show chairman William Hutchinson said they took a record £21,000 in entry fees on Saturday and something similar yesterday.

He said: “We could not be happier. It has gone better than we could have wished.

“What has made this show different to previous ones?

The weather, without question.

We have had glorious sunshine, which people have come out in force to enjoy.

“Unfortunately, the rain has caused problems at other shows in the North-East this summer, so when people finally had the chance to enjoy a show in the sun, they have taken it.

“The sun has certainly proved our biggest attraction.”

Visitors came from all over the North-East as well as Weardale to see livestock parades, horse trials and stunt artists.

It proved a successful competition for the partnership of Julie Sedgewick, from Sedgefield , County Durham, and Neil Slack of Penrith, Cumbria, as their British blue cross heifer, for whom it was a first competition, was named champion of the cattle section.

Ian Collinson, who farms at nearby Eastgate, ended the day with the best sheep for the ninth time thanks to his fouryear- old Swaledale .

There were also plenty of prizes in the horse section, with categories for sport and hunter horses, Welsh ponies, Dale ponies, Clydedales and donkeys.

The latter was won by Taka Ra Haka, from Todridge, in Northumberland , who finished ahead of Freddy Star.

The first Stanhope show was held in 1834 has been held every year apart from during the world wars and the footand- mouth outbreak.