THOUSANDS of people have headed to Ryedale Show to mark its 150th anniversary.

The crowds were joined by the guest of honour, the Duchess of Kent, who was accompanied by her nephew Sir William Worsley, the deputy Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, at Welburn Park near Kirkbymoorside.

She was presented with a posy of flowers by four-year-old Ebony Fairburn, the granddaughter of the chairman Frederick Fairburn and Ella Leckenby, two, granddaughter of the show's presidents, Sheila and Chris Leckenby.

This year’s show included a parade to celebrate farming since the first show held in 1855.

Chris Leckenby said the show had gone very well with a good atmosphere.

"I have been able to look round the showground for the first time in the 40 years I have been involved with the event and there is a lot more here than I realised. It has been a very good day," he said.

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