YOUNG and old were among a record-breaking crowd of more than 12,000 people who visited the Hadleigh Show in the picturesque Holbecks Park on Saturday.

YOUNG and old were among a record-breaking crowd of more than 12,000 people who visited the Hadleigh Show in the picturesque Holbecks Park on Saturday.

A traditional celebration of agriculture, the event is now in its 165th year and the crowds were bustling around the stalls.

David Tabrett, the show's director, said: "You can put your heart and your soul into organising an event like this and if you get a bad day there's nothing you can do about it. There's a huge sigh of relief when you wake up and the sun is shining.

"I think it probably had the most people visit ever. Everybody seems to have thoroughly enjoyed themselves and going round was a delight as everyone was so positive, so I think it was deemed rather successful."

A new countryside ring was introduced this year, which featured the donkey and livestock judging before various demonstrations took over, including fly-fishing, falconry, terrier racing, sheep dog handling and a gun dog scurry.

Events in the main ring remained unchanged and the Essex and Suffolk Foxhounds, East Anglian Bloodhounds and the Stour Valley Beagles also undertook their traditional parade.

But the show's star entertainment this year was a light trade harness display by local tradesmen. Children had the opportunity to see the livestock up close while art-loving grown ups wandered into a large marquee packed with sculptures and paintings.