A family whose farm was devastated by the foot and mouth epidemic 12 months ago was today celebrating after scooping a top award at the Great Yorkshire Show.

The Varley family lost their entire stock of cattle during last year's crisis, and contemplated quitting farming all together.

Animals only returned to their Queensbury farm in January.

But yesterday, at the damp Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate, the Varleys were toasting Ryedale Redlight and Ryedale Spotlight after the two heifers scooped prizes in their class of the British Limousin competition. Pat Varley, pictured at she show, admitted it had been a long and difficult struggle to return to farming but said yesterday's success had made the hard work worthwhile.

"This has been our first outing since we lost all our animals, so we are really pleased with the result," she said.

"It has been really bad, but it was our son Daniel who really wanted us to restock, so we decided to go ahead.

"It has taken months and hours and hours of preparation, and we are delighted because you can never prepare them for something like this."

Daniel, 24, who paraded the two animals, which had never been shown before, said the success ranked among his finest achievements.

"It makes me really proud to be walking around a ground with all these top breeders because we have such a small herd compared with them. It's really great to have a winner and makes all these months of hard work worthwhile."

His dad John added: "To see all our animals shot dead like that was devastating. But life goes on and it is great to come home with a ticket."

The family were among a clutch of Bradford winners at the event which made its return following last year's cancellation.

Also celebrating was Stephen Priestley whose bull Brontemoor Stantheman clinched first prize in its class.

His farm in Denholme narrowly survived the epidemic and he said it was a relief to be back showing his animals.

"It is just great to be back and seeing a lot of people that we have not met for a long time. To win a first prize is absolutely terrific and recognition for a lot of hard work."

Angela Blockley took a haul of prizes back to her Bradford farm after a successful day's work in the Longhorn class.

She said the past 12 months had been "dreadful" and said the mood among farmers was downbeat.

"Today is a positive step forward but there is not the usual buzz about the place and everybody feels a bit deflated. Normally in the Longhorn field there are 35 to 40 entries, but this year there are only eight. I think people have been put off by the rules and regulations which are far too stringent."

Despite the wet weather, big crowds did turn out to see the thousands of breeds of animals, variety of stalls, and other events which make up the show.

The Burley-in-Wharfedale based Gascoigne Gallery provided a range of paintings, including some by 84-year-old Ilkley artist Marie Walker Last, for the fashion and art pavilion. And cricket bat manufacturer Peter Kippax, who is based in Low Moor, Bradford, gave a demonstration of his woodwork skills in the forestry section.