A LEEK show is to close after 38 years because of a lack of interest from young gardeners.

Organisers have decided to end the show after years of growing prize leeks for the event, at the workingmen's club in Rookhope.

Club officials said the decision to make the show, held at the weekend, the last was due to a steep rise in the cost of growing the vegetables and a lack of interest among young people.

It also follows the cancellation of shows in the neighbouring villages of Eastgate and Westgate last month.

Rookhope show secretary Dennis Richardson said: "I'm afraid it's just a very sad reflection on the way things have gone in recent years. With things like the rising price of paraffin, there is no doubt that growing prize leeks in tunnels is now a very expensive hobby.

"There's also very little interest in it among gardeners, and there are very few young people, if any, coming through."

Mr Richardson said that in the mid-1960s, the village had three leek shows.

There was such a big a demand to show leeks by lead miners and cement and quarry workers that entry had to be restricted to 20 stands.

At this weekend's show there were 16 stands and, according to Mr Richardson, "acres of space going begging. In the old days, we would have growers from as far away as Blanchland and from all over Weardale taking part in our shows.

"It's very, very sad, but the reality is that village leek shows have just gone out of fashion."

Mr Richardson said he would continue to grow leeks.

"I will be 70 soon, and I have always been a keen gardener. I have no intention of giving up," he said.

* The winner of the Rookhope leek show was Tommy Dobson, of Wolsingham. Second was David Thompson, of Stanhope, and third was John Wall, of Rookhope.