FARMING families and countryside lovers from across the region flocked to the Durham Dales for a popular sheep show.

Eastgate Sheep Show returned for the 32nd year yesterday (Saturday) and saw 55 farmers head to Weardale to exhibit the finest livestock in their care.

Expert judges examined impressive entries in a range of sections, focusing on breeds such as Swaledale, Texel, Leicesters and Mules.

Prize money and trophies were given out in each category but it was Donna Coates and Darren Fletcher, from nearby Ireshopeburn, who scooped the prestigious Best in Show award for their Texel tup hogg.

The pair had already triumphed in the Texel category earlier that day.

Show secretary Paul Collinson said: “It was a very worthy winner. It looked extremely well on the day.

“I would like to congratulate all of the exhibitors for the standard of this year’s entries.

“It was also great to see people travelling from across the North. We had entrants from Cumbria and Yorkshire, as well as from across County Durham.”

The other winners were: William Porter, from Muker in North Yorkshire, who won the Swaledale category; Oliver Scown, from Wolsingham, who won the traditional Leicester category; Neil Marsden, from Carlisle in Cumbria, who won the crossing Leicester category; and Robert and Edward Peart from Frosterley whose Charollais sheep earned them the trophy in the other breeds category.

Activities aside from the sheep competition included a pet show, dog show, beer tent and children’s games.

Mr Collinson said: “It was a great day. We enjoyed glorious sunshine until about 4pm when we were hit by a huge downpour but nobody seemed to mind.”