Royal Lancashire Show draws in the crowds

The agricultural show made a comeback this weekend at Salesbury Hall, in Ribchester, near Preston, after a rocky few years.

And it proved to be popular, with around 24,000 people attending the event on Friday and Saturday and thousands more still going through the gates today.

Marketing director Emma Walton said: “It’s gone better than we expected.

“The support that we have had from the public, who have paid to come through the gates, has been absolutely tremendous. We are overwhelmed with it, to be honest.

“We know that it’s a special show, but to get the support so quickly after one year is amazing.”

Under blue skies, the visitors enjoyed a host of attractions over the weekend.

The event started on Friday with a ladies’ day, which included a flower demonstration, afternoon tea, Miss Royal Lancashire competition, fashion shows and more.

Over the weekend, the main ring had show jumping, shire horse displays and stunt motorcycle and quad shows.

There were trade stands, historic military vehicles, food, sheep dog demonstrations, ferret racing, dog agility and gun dog demonstrations.

The historic show has had a troubled history and has been scaled down or cancelled in recent years owing to bad weather and problems finding a suitable site.

But it could now return to being an annual event.

Mrs Walton said: “We have to keep a level head about it all and make sure that it’s viable to continue, but the hope is that we can make it an annual event and we can expect to grow the number of people that are coming into it every year.”

She highlighted the hard work of the team of volunteers behind the show, as well as the sponsors and Colin Mustoe, of Salesbury Hall, for the use of the land.

- Don’t miss a two page picture special from the show in tomorrow’s Lancashire Evening Post