TRADITIONAL, native and rare breed sheep, cattle, poultry and waterfowl will go on show at Skipton in September.

The event, staged in association with the Dales Support Group of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, takes place at Cra-ven Cattle Marts' Skipton Auction Mart, on Saturday, September 17.

Last year, the fixture attracted more than 200 sheep and 700 poultry and waterfowl entries.

The show, for which entries close on August 28, is again being sponsored by Grays, of Shenstone, Staffordshire, suppliers of Border hand-crafted figurines of agricultural breeds, tractors and wildlife studies. Grays will also stage a collectors' sale and auction of Border Fine Arts pieces, as well as providing valuation and repair services for established collectors, along with help and advice for new collector.

It will be a day for all the family, with a working sheepdog demonstration, display of vintage tractors, rural craft exhibitors and various stalls. Yorkshire Building Society Junior Band will provide musical entertainment.

In addition, the second annual show and sale of sheep at Skipton for the Hampshire Down Society will be held on the same day.

Jeremy Eaton, Craven Cattle Marts' general manager, said this year's event had all the makings of being the best yet.