IN a break from tradition, the rain stayed away from yesterday's Great Harwood Agricultural Show.

Around 7,000 visitors flocked to showground off Balfour Street for the 136th show, which included show jumping, owl displays, morris dancers, vintage vehicles and all the fun of the fair.

There were sections for light horses, heavy horses, dogs, rabbits and poultry, and for the first time since the foot-and-mouth outbreak, cattle and sheep.

Rona Westwell, secretary of Great Harwood Agricultural Society, said: "We've had about 7,000 people, which is 2,000 more than last year and the number of competitors has risen as well.

"It's just great that the rain stayed away and the ground was firmer."

The show is one of the biggest agricultural events in the area and had hundreds of animals entered by competitors from all over the country.