VISITORS flocked to a remote village high up on the North York Moors today (Wednesday August 26) for a major agricultural show.

The 126th Egton Show, held amongst the purple heather moorland near Whitby, attracted thousands of visitors.

Highlights included sheep dog trials, sheep shearing and blacksmith demonstrations, show jumping, a dog show and parades of vintage machinery, cattle and agricultural horses.

One of those exhibiting for the first time included Janet Jeffrey, who was showing beef shorthorn cattle owned by the James family from Sleightholme Dale Lodge near Kirkbymoorside.

Her granddaughter, Beth Barker, 11, took part in the calf classes.

"It's the first time I've come to this show, because they've put on a class for native breeds this year," said Mrs Jeffrey.

"It's good, because there's more variety for people to see and it attracts more people wanting to take part.

"My granddaughter has been showing one of the calves and lots of children have come and had their picture taken and petted him, so you are helping to introduce farming to them."

The overall supreme sheep champion was this year won by Anna Wilson, from Hall Farm near Nunthorpe. Mrs Wilson said she was thrilled with the result, as she had unusually won with a rare breed sheep, a Gemstone Kerry Hills.

She said: "I can't quite believe I've won; it's rare to get a rare breed winning a show."

Organisers said visitor numbers remained high throughout the day as the weather stayed dry and bright.