When the Mellin family turn up at Yorkshire's biggest annual show with their border collie, geese, ducks and sheep, the audience is in for a few surprises.

Between them they will be putting on a display in a new arena at the Great Yorkshire Show, set up especially for fun activities.

For the audience it will be an eye-opener as in addition to herding sheep, the Mellins will be rounding up ducks and geese.

And as thirteen year-old Philip and his dad Albert display their skills, mum, Carol, will be giving a running commentary.

"This is something of a family affair," said Mrs Mellin of Moorlodge Farm, Oakworth, near Keighley.

"I will be telling people exactly what is happeneing including how Albert does the sheering and trains the dogs."

Show organisers are calling the event Creatures: Great and Small and also taking part will be alpacas, Shetland ponies and ferrets.

It is hoped it will help keep the turnstiles moving in a bid to match last year's record breaking crown of 135,111.

The show takes place in Harrogate showground from Tuesday July 10 to Thursday July 12.

Nigel Pulling, chief executive of the organisers Yorkshire Agricultural Society, said: "I'm sure this new arena will be very popular especially with younger visitors and gives a different dimension to the hundreds of classes for livestock elsewhere on the showground."

Spectators will be encouraged to cheer on their favourites, especially in the sheep race and in the terrier hurdle event.

The Yorkshire Alpaca Society offers a chance to learn more about the creatures and see how their fleeces can be hand spun. Visitors will also be encouraged to have a go at producing alpaca felt.

Otter twins, Bertie and Belinda, aged eight and a half, and six month old Rudi Potter, who has just finished filming for the latest BBC series The Chase, will help deliver a message about how to keep rivers clean and minimise pollution.

Small pets including guinea pigs, hens and ducks will meet visitors and the zone also includes a number of static exhibitions.

Tickets in advance are £16 for adults with concessions at £13 and £7 for children. A family ticket will cost £42 for two adults and up to three children. On the day they are £19, £15, £8 and £47.

Dogs are not allowed in the showground or in the car parks.

Further information is on (01423) 541000 or at greatyorkshireshow.co.uk.