VISITORS flocked to East Lancashire from across the country yesterday as the 1999 Royal Lancashire Agricultural Show got under way.

And those harbouring memories of last year's wet weather and sodden, muddy showground seemed to enjoy themselves all the more as temperatures soared into the eighties at Astley Park, Chorley.

Mum Ann Forshaw, of Birchall Avenue, Darwen, was enjoying a day out with daughters Meghan, 11, and seven-year-old Bethany.

She said: "They really wanted to come because it is a brilliant day out but last year the weather was awful and we were left wading through bogs in the field.

"Today is wonderful - though we have to keep sitting down in the shade!"

East Lancashire folk were among the hundreds of competitors taking part in horticultural, agricultural and equestrian classes throughout the day. Arthur Garnett, who runs a dairy farm in Mellor, had already won eight rosettes with his Ayrshire cows.

He said: "The show is very special because it is one of the last Royal shows left. It is very prestigious and I'm really pleased we've won."

Young rider Sarah Lundy, of Croft Top Farm, Rising Bridge, near Rossendale, entered her pony Star Two in equitation and show jumping classes, while Adele Atkinson, of Barrowford Road, Padiham, was also hoping to scoop a few rosettes with her two horses Bergerac and Highland Paddy.

Meanwhile Ladies Day committee member Dorothy Hargreaves, of Simonstone, was looking for the best dressed visitors at the event which is also taking place today and tomorrow.

She explained: "The first day of the show has been Ladies Day for the past few years and we like to encourage everyone to dress up in hats so we have a competition to find the most elegant and there are certainly plenty of candidates here today."

Dry stone wall enthusiasts Eric Fort, of Cotton Street, Padiham, Arthur Whittaker, of Wycollar near Trawden, and Alf Griffith, of Milton Street, Nelson, are hoping to generate plenty of interest in the technique over the weekend.

Alf said: "We've certainly got the weather for it."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.