ORGANISERS of the region's largest annual farm and country event are celebrating another successful year.

Tens of thousands of visitors went to the Great Yorkshire Showground, in Harrogate, between Tuesday and Thursday for the three-day event, run by Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

And apart from a brief shower on the final day, the rain stayed away.

The society said the attendance figure of 122,042 was down 9.7 per cent on last year's record total of 135,111.

But it said there were more competitive entries than ever, including a record number of sheep.

Show director Bill Cowling said: "We have had another fantastic show and are delighted to have maintained the extremely high standards for which we are renowned.

"This was in spite of facing the most difficult weather in the show's history prior to the event.

"The highest June rainfall on record presented us with major challenges, particularly in preparing the car parks, but our contingency plans stood us in good stead and worked well.

"We were delighted that so many visitors took our advice and used public transport."