BARROWFORD buzzed with life as showtime brought thousands flocking to the village.

The annual agricultural show saw the park teeming with visitors and streets and pubs packed for the village's big day of the year.

And after the fourth successive year of blue skies and a warm welcome, organisers declared the event simply "sun-sational".

It was a day of family fun, a farmers' delight and pet lovers' dream, with record entries for many of the most popular park and Bull Holme attractions.

Bonny babies bounced, show ring attractions boomed and organisers beamed as everything came right on the day.

The success of the 79th annual show was a far cry from the situation three years ago when after three consecutive years of heavy downpours, the event was all but washed up.

"We had to cut back on attractions and ask the council to underwrite any losses if we had another bad year," recalls show chairman Tony Dixon.

Now after four good weather shows, the traditional village event is firmly back on its feet and in expansive mood.

"We have built up our reserves and are well placed to weather any storm - everything we make goes back into the show." "It is very difficult to book good attractions if you don't have the money in hand to cover the costs.

"That is no longer the case in Barrowford and we can continue making improvements."

Mr Dixon and his 20-strong team on the organising committee are already looking forward to next year's Millennium event - marking 80 years of Barrowford Show.

"We have every confidence we will go from strength to strength," he said.

Hawk displays, pigs and piglet shows, dog agility tests were all part of this year's entertainments.

There was a children's entertainer in the park and music came from Brassa Nova and members of Barnoldswick Brass band.

Companies including Pfizer and Nelson-based Walker Farrimond Mitsubishi helped out with sponsorship aid.

Mr Dixon is appealing for more people to come forward to join the organising committee to further ensure its future success.

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