THOUSANDS of people attended the first day of the Royal Lancashire Show as the rain held off, ensuring no repeat of last year's chaotic scenes.

Even at the evening peak, traffic was flowing freely off the site at Salesbury Hall Farm, near Ribchester, in stark contrast to traffic jams of 2003.

And those attending even got to bask in the afternoon sun, with the police officers manning the exits joking they might need suncream.

"Everything seems to have worked really well," said Rennie Pinder, chairman of the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society, which organises the event.

"We haven't had any problems. The traffic has flowed freely while the show itself has gone very well so far.

"One of the big differences has been that virtually all the show traffic was on site before yesterday morning, unlike last year when some of it was still coming in when visitors began arriving.

"It's looking very good for the next two days."

Yesterday was ladies day, which brought with it the unusual sight of women walking around the show field in expensive outfits and lavish hats.

The emphasis has been on providing something for everyone at this year's show and, to that end, a beauty show - called Miss Royal Lancashire - was due to take place today.

Women aged 16 to 25 were to parade in summer dresses in an event organisers said has been "extremely popular for contestants."

The showground covers 125 acres and there are five main categories: agriculture, country crafts, equestrian, horticulture and trade.

It is the 237th time the show has been held. It began life in St Ann's Square, in Manchester, in 1767 and has had several homes since then, including Chorley's Astley Park and Blackburn's Witton Park.

Police reported the A59 was busier than usual yesterday but officers on patrol bikes ensured the traffic kept moving. People visiting the show have now been urged to leave the M6 at junction 31 and travel down the A59.