Skipton'S High Street stepped back in time on Sunday and reverted back to the days when it lived up to its name of Sheep Town.

Despite being unlucky in picking the date for Skipton's first ever Sheep Day, with heavy downpours of rain in the morning, the event recovered well in the afternoon as the weather eased off.

The High Street was closed off from 10am to make way for a sheep show and rare breeds display. A mock auction was also held in the afternoon.

Jeremy Eaton, of Skipton Auction Mart said: "From the farmers' point of view they thought the event was really well staged. The quality of the sheep entries was very good to say it was the first attempt. I think it did well to attract those sort of entries."

Meanwhile, there were plenty of other attractions including a dry stone walling demonstration by Ingleton landscape gardening contractor and dry stone waller Stephen Harrison.

There was also a display of old skills such as rope making and hurdle making plus a sheep shearing demonstration.

In the afternoon a large crowd gathered to watch a humorous display of a farmer and his sheep dog attempting to coax a flock of ducks around an obstacle course. The crowd was informed that ducks instead of sheep had to be used due to space restrictions in the town centre.

Members of Craven Young Farmers' Club also entertained visitors with their popular ferret bingo.

Two events had to be moved indoors due to the weather - the children's fancy dress competition and dancing by the Zulu warriors, which were both transferred to Craven Court.

Inside the town hall there were further attractions including a demonstration by Craven Guild of handspinners, weavers and dyers, basket making, lace making and stalls selling Yorkshire products including lamb.

There was also an interesting small exhibition from Craven Museum including a copies of a hymn about the Cattle Plague (the original is on display at Craven Museum), which struck this country in 1866 and led to the death of four million beasts over the next two years. The event was organised by Skipton Town Council with help from Skipton Auction Mart, Craven Young Farmers' Club, and the Rare Breeds Society.

Mayor Richard Colley said a meeting was held and it was likely that the event would be repeated next year.

"It was a good country day with no commercialisation."

Pat Daley, clerk to Skipton Town Council said: "I think it went very well. It was small to begin with and one or two things did not turn up because of the weather and one or two events had to be changed, but on the whole there was a very nice atmosphere and we did not have too many grumbles."

The winner of the fancy dress competition was Alexander Gillies, of Beckside, Carleton, who dressed up as the owl from the nursery rhyme The Owl and the Pussycat, while his sister Lorna Gillies won second place dressed up as the cat. Meanwhile, Erin Horsman, of Romille Street, Skipton, won third place as The Queen of Hearts.

RESULTS.

Swaledale Ewe - 1 I Wilson, four shear, 2 R Tennant, shearling, 3 J Tennant, five shear

Swaledale Ram - 1 I Wilson, four shear, 2 A Haggas, four shear, 3 J Wade

Hogg; Champion - I Wilson, four shear, Reserve - I Wilson, four shear ram

Rare Breeds Ewe - 1 H Holdsworth, Balwen, 2 Janet Marron, Ryeland, 3 Cynthia Colley, coloured Ryeland

Rare breeds ram - 1 S Longton, Kerry Hill, 2 Janet Marron, Ryeland, 3 Cynthia Colley, coloured Ryeland

Champion - S Longton, Kerry Hill; Reserve Champion - H Holdsworth, Balwen.