A PIECE of the countryside has been brought to town with hundreds of families flocking to see herds of sheep, cattle and goats alongside show jumping horses, birds of prey – and a poodle standing on his hind legs.

The annual Cleveland Show returned to Stewart Park, in Middlesbrough, over the weekend with a range of agricultural-based displays to entertain visitors.

The format of the event remains largely unchanged since the first show, then known as the Stockton Show, was hosted in 1944.

The celebrated event hosted on Saturday catered for all ages and tastes with live music, a fun fair and assault course also on offer, alongside craft and trade stands to support North-East businesses.

Horses and riders also used the event as a qualifier for the national Veteran Horse of the Year 2017 competition and National Pony Society shows.