THE Royal Lancashire Show returned to Salesbury Hall at the weekend, the sun shone and thousands poured in to see the full range of what the county had to offer.

The livestock section was bigger than usual, foods and other produce were on display and sale while traditional crafts were also in evidence.

Visitors and exhibitors came from far and wide and there was plenty for children to do as they were introduced to the ‘show experience’ to make sure a tradition started in 1767 has another 250 years in the future.

Chairman Colin Mustoe was delighted with a Friday attendance, despite poor weather, of more than 3,500 and even more so when almost 7,000 came though the gates on Saturday, many paying on the door.

Sunday saw a similar attendance as the sun shone for the second day running.

Fresh from sorting out a water leak at his nearby home, he said: “It’s looking like a great success and we hope that it will be here for a few more years.

“The show has a long but somewhat up and down history and last year at Witton Park in Blackburn it was badly hit by the weather.

“I hope to be chairman next year and that this show will see us starting to really build it up again from a low recent base.”

He admitted to be ‘learning on the job’ and that renaming the ‘Lecture Theatre’ with the words ‘cookery’ and ‘food’ in the title has made an immediate difference to attendances.

Two visitors to Northcote restaurant’s Nigel Howarth’s culinary demonstration in the retitled tent got a pleasant surprise.

Julie Claux, from Darwen, and Burnley butcher George Hanley were called to the front to share the Michelin-starred chef’s ‘Cabbage with mussels and clams’.

She said: It’s delicious.I’ll try and make it at home.”

Mr Hanley settled for ‘Mmmmm’.

In the Children’s Marquee Claire and Andy Renshaw from Chorley, both 41, had their children trying out circus skills.

Isobelle, nine, was impressed with her stilt walking and said: “I might try and get mum to get some.

“I do gymnastics but like this circus stuff too.”

Brother Oliver, seven, was less impressed with his unicyle saying: “I think I’ll stick to my bike.”

Nearby as Simon from Dudley in the West Midlands explained in ‘The Countryside Ring’ why ferrets were so important to Britain rural life, Abigail Cronshaw was trying to make friends with one under the watchful eye of mum Joanne.

But the eight-year-old was not too impressed with Lolita: “She’s a little but fuzzy and scary so I don’t think I want one as a pet.

“”I think Poppy our Labrador would chase and try to eat her.”

At the Willowpool Designs tent, owner Simone Siegen, from Ohio USA via Cumbria, was watching approvingly as her student Stephanie Doherty from Preston wove some willow wands.

She said: “I am really enjoying it here. The Lancashire people are so friendly and I’ll be coming again.”