RUSSIA'S love affair with the World of James Herriot in Thirsk continued with a visit from the country's top English Springer Spaniel breeder.

Ekaterina Anikushina, who breeds spaniels in Bolshaya Vruda, visited the attraction earlier in the summer and sent a postcard from Thirsk back to her Russian hometown.

The card arrived last week and has been posted on the top breeder's facebook page for all to see.

Ms Anikushina's trip followed the recent visit of Svetlana Kolosova, curator of The State Darwin Museum Moscow and Ian Ashton, managing director of the World of James Herriot said: “This is the year of the Russians for us in Herriot Country and the World of James Herriot as visitor numbers are at an all-time high.

"Our visit to Moscow earlier in the year certainly seems to be paying dividends after the Herriot Exhibition staged at the State Darwin Museum Moscow and our meeting with the Moscow Herriot Fan Club.”

Mr Ashton added: “Alf Wight’s love of small animals was very well-known and he would have been delighted by Ekaterina’s visit. We are grateful to David Shields, area director of Welcome to Yorkshire, who is also a dog show judge, for spotting Ekaterina’s post.”