THE 14th annual Countryside Live agricultural show at the weekend saw more than 12,000 visitors descend on the Great Yorkshire Showground.

Among them was BBC’s MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace, the show's VIP guest, who officiated at the chefs' cook off in the new showpiece Cookery Theatre and presented prizes to winning beekeepers.

Also on site was Julian Norton, star of Channel 5's Yorkshire Vet programme who visited Countryside Live’s first-ever Alpaca show as part of his visit.

Charles Mills, show director, said: "It’s been a wonderful two days, the standard of the competitive entries has been first class and it’s been great to see families enjoying themselves.

"If there was one thing that stood out for me, it was the progression of youngsters showing in the livestock sections. Over the years, I’ve seen young people who have started in the young handler classes, who are now showing in the adult sections, and they are showing the type of animals we, as an industry, need to produce.

"Their involvement is something we must continue to encourage. Showcasing local food is an important part of the show and the cookery theatre and tasting hub were first class as was the equine section."

For the first time, the show was the setting for the finals of the Young Shepherd of the Year competition, organised by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Tom Evans,11, of Fourcrosses, Wales was crowned the overall champion.

Local winners in the show included the Mountain & Moorland Working Hunter Pony Champion. This title was won by Murthewaite Soloman, an eight-year-old fell pony, ridden by 18-year-old Olivia Lyall of Sleights, Whitby.

Dates for Countryside Live in 2017 are Saturday, October 21 and Sunday 22, which will be the event's 15th show.

Dates for its sister event, the Great Yorkshire Show, are Tuesday, July 11 to Thursday, July 13.