THOUSANDS of youngsters from across the region have been enjoying a brief glimpse of the agricultural world.

Around 6,000 youngsters took part in the Countryside Days event held at the Great Yorkshire Showground this week..

The children, from primary schools across the region, enjoyed a wide range of demonstrations, exhibitions and hands-on activities at the event - which aims to bring youngsters closer to rural life and increase their knowledge and understanding.

Activities and workshops ranging from bee keeping to sheep dog training to making horse shoes were on the packed programme.

The event is organised by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society as part of its year-round work highlighting the importance of the farming industry. The society is best known as the organiser of the annual rural showcase, the Great Yorkshire Show.

The chair of the society’s education committee, Charlotte Bromet, said: “The showground literally becomes an outdoor classroom and Countryside Days brings alive a vast range of elements of rural life.

“Youngsters can see for themselves what's involved and the fact that it’s very much hands on means that they are far more likely to have a better understanding, and remember what they have learnt.”