PUTTING a wager on racing ferrets was a new attraction at the 133rd Great Harwood Agricultural Society Show.

But with overcast skies for much of the day, few would have gambled correctly on the weather - the event was totally rain-free.

The event at Great Harwood Showground, off Wood Street, had family attractions including a rocket simulator, bouncy castle, stalls, crafts and food, as well as the traditional competitions for agricultural expertise.

Jim Read, from Waddington, has been tempting punters with his racing ferrets at local shows for more than four years.

He asked spectators to guess which of five tubes his animals would emerge from first when he placed two ferrets at a time inside a barrel with multiple rodent exits.

It was first time out for the five-strong team of ferrets at a Great Harwood Show but plenty of intrigued onlookers took a chance to double their 50p stake by guessing which pipe an animal would emerge from first.

Father and son team Gerald and Andrew Hillary, from Clitheroe, covered themselves in glory in the poultry section, taking four first prizes, five second prizes and a third place, as well as winning the reserve best hard feather bantam category. One star of the show who didn't get a rosette was rescued orphan goat Billy, who spent much of the day making friends while trying to eat everything he could inside the horse secretary's tent.

Billy was rescued from a Ribble Valley auction when just two days old and has now become the family pet for show horse section secretary Rona Westwell and her family in Guide.

Show chairman Geoff Hanson said: "The ferret racing was a new attraction and turned out to be a bit of a catch-penny for the society.

"We have had a difficult time organising things this year but the dry weather meant it the whole thing was easier going than we expected.

"We had more people come than the last couple of years, the standard of entries was very high and we are pleased with people's continued support."

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