PEOPLE could not wait to get hold of tickets for the annual Todmorden Agricultural Show as record numbers picked them up ahead of the event.

More than £6,000 worth of advance sales were clocked up before the gates to the showground at Centre Vale Park were opened at 6am on Saturday.

Sunshine brought the crowds out in flocks, organisers estimated up to 10,000 enjoyed the show, and they were treated to a day jam-packed with events from goat milking to steam engines.

Colleen White, who was in charge of arranging sponsorship for the show, said: "We had an excellent day. The pre-day ticket sales, because of the weather forecast, were very high, a record, and we had people streaming through the doors all day.

"It shows that the interest in Todmorden Show is still very great and we always say it's the biggest one-day event of its kind in the area. Competitors, particularly in the horses section, come here from all over the North. We had 500 dog entries which was amazing. "Any profits we make at the end of the day go into making next year's show even bigger and better."

There were more off-beat attractions including a miniature steam train ride, full size steam engines, tractors, classic cars for the first time, an obstacle course to test dogs' agility, duck herding and tractor pulling.

Colourful trade stands and a traditional fun fair caught the attention, and a stand featuring owls and other birds of prey ruffled a few feathers.

The show ended, as it had started, with a goat milking trial before the task of clearing the showground got under way. As usual everyone ended up exhausted but delighted at another great show.

East Lancashire winners included: Horses: Welsh Mountain Brood Mare, C Graves, Accrington; Welsh section mare or gelding, C McNally, Burnley. Cattle: Lord Challenge Cup (best dairy heifer in calf), Mr Gravestone, Clitheroe; Best matched pair beef cattle, N Hartley, Nelson; Nathan Moor Memorial Cup overall Hereford champion, J Wharburton, Burnley. Classic cars: 2, G Dawson (1965 Ford), Colne; 3, J Northcott (1946 Vauxhall), Burnley.

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