CLOUDS cleared for a perfect day and the crowds turned out in their thousands at Weeton Show on Sunday.

The mixture of show horses and ponies, showjumping and driving classes, racing ferrets, the Claro Beagles and bouncy castles attracted people from far and wide.

Around 3,000 people went to the show in Weeton Lane laden down with picnics and barbecues to enjoy the traditional agricultural and horticultural event.

And after last year, when the event was cancelled because of the foot and mouth epidemic, the show was declared a great success.

David and Michelle Barber, from Otley, who were at the show to see their grand daughter compete in the pony showing classes, said: "We love coming to this show, everyone is so friendly.

"It's certainly competitive, but there's never any bad humour, everyone accepts what the judges say."

Keith Wilson, from Harrogate, at the show with his children, Sophie, ten, and George, six, said: "The children just love the bouncy slide, I reckon I must have spent a small fortune, but they just won't walk past it without wanting a go."

Crowds were treated to racing ferrets, with Linda Emerson and the Harrogate Ferret Racing Team, and in the main arena there was a display by Dave Sleight and his team of Lurcher dogs.

Also at the event were the Guiseley Brass Band and the ever popular Claro Beagles.

Alison Denman, general secretary, said everyone seemed to have a good day.

"We didn't have any major complaints and everything seemed to go okay. The only trouble I have is I'm so busy in the tent doing the results that I can't actually get out to see the show."

Mrs Denman said the weather turned out to be just perfect.

"It was nice and cool in the morning for the horses, I was actually beginning to worry, but then the sun came out in the afternoon

and it was really hot. We must have had about 3,000 people, about the same as we normally do."

Meanwhile, after last year's cancellation, people were glad the show had gone ahead.

"People were saying it was nice to be back and some were still celebrating when we left at gone 7pm.

"People bring their own picnics and barbecues and set up around the arena."

Mrs Denman and her team of helpers were back at the showground on Monday clearing up and already looking ahead to next year's event.

"Hopefully next year we'll try a few new things, people have suggested a few ideas we might try out - just watch this space," she said.