ORGANISERS of this year's Suffolk Show have today hailed the event as a great success – and said they expect the numbers of people attending over the two days to have reached 85,000.

ORGANISERS of this year's Suffolk Show have today hailed the event as a great success – and said they expect the numbers of people attending over the two days to have reached 85,000.

Final attendance figures for the Ipswich-based show, which came to an end last night, are still being calculated, but it is believed the show has maintained the five-year average.

Bill Baker, deputy honorary director, said: "There are so many highlights, there can't be just one.

"When you see a child smiling in one of the pens with the lambs, or a child touching a horse for the first time, you know you have put on a great show.

"It's the county coming together, it's the main event of the year to celebrate all that we do.

"In many ways the agricultural community is declining in numbers, but the show is going from strength to strength."

Executive director Christopher Bushby said a celebration of Suffolk was at the heart of the show, reconnecting producers and their consumers.

He added: "One of this year's show highlights has been the livestock – we have had the highest number of entries since foot-and-mouth."

Honorary director Stephen Miles hailed the show "a huge success" and "a champion for local produce", with more food producers than last year in the food hall.

Mr Miles, in his first year as show director, said: "It's been a very good show, there are lots of happy faces.

"Next year we will have a new building bringing a different element to the show, possibly a technological angle looking at the food process.

"But this will be in addition to what we offer, it will not take away from any of the current attractions."

David Barker, senior steward with the show, said there was something for everyone at the show.

He added the event was not about final attendance figures, but putting on a quality show for the people.

Police had warned visitors to this year's show to be patient as they braced themselves for possible long delays through the sheer volume of traffic.

Every effort was made to ensure drivers got to the event with minimal problems, but there were still delays as traffic moved slowly on the A14 trying to get to and from the showground.