ONE of the North’s largest one day agricultural shows is taking place this weekend with thousands of visitors from the region expected.

The 144th Stokesley Show will be held on the town’s showfield on Saturday (September 17) and with high summer temperatures expected again at the weekend, it is thought crowds could be in the region of last year's 25,000 visitors.

The entertainment begins in Stokesley on Wednesday night, with the arrival of the town’s annual fair in the High Street, which remains until Saturday.

On the day of the show there will be aerobatic motorcycle stunts from the Jamie Squibb Freestyle Stunt Team, Hammonds Saltaire Band, laser game shooting from Miss Shoot and the colourful Prestons Gavioli Organ.

Other highlights will include the Sheep Show, a humorous and educational stage show about sheep and wool, which involves nine different breeds of sheep taking to a podium for explanations about each breed, along with a shearing demonstration and a “dancing sheep” feature.

People can also try visit one of the Commondale Wool Workshops, where a group of volunteers will be demonstrating spinning, weaving, knitting, dying and felting using wool from the local area. The group meets at Fowl Green Farm in Commondale, North Yorkshire to make items to sell which raise funds for The Hayshed project, which trains disabled people in skills.

There will also be horse and hound demonstrations from Cleveland Foxhounds, Stokesley Farmers’ Beagles and the Bilsdale Hunt in the main ring.

The Diggerland attraction, which has attractions in Langley Park near Durham and elsewhere in the country will also be bringing some of its machinery and rides from its attractions.

There will also be traditional classes for livestock, produce, crafts and horses, as well as show jumping and a dog show.

The show is open to the public from 8.30am and admission is £12 adults, £8 children and £30 for family tickets.