THOUSANDS of visitors enjoyed the splendour of the record breaking Hadleigh Show at the weekend.Delighted show director Andrew Chaplin revealed numbers were up 10 per cent - at between 10,000 and 12,000 - on the last show, in 2000.

THOUSANDS of visitors enjoyed the splendour of the record breaking Hadleigh Show at the weekend.

Delighted show director Andrew Chaplin revealed numbers were up 10 per cent - at between 10,000 and 12,000 - on the last show, in 2000.

The show is now in its 163rd year and was held in the grounds of Holbecks Hall, former home of the late Sir Joshua and Lady Rowley.

Although Suffolk was not afflicted by last year's devastating foot and mouth epidemic, its aftermath meant the show's organisers had to make different arrangements for livestock, including keeping them in their own safe area in accordance with DEFRA regulations.

So this year there were no goats or sheep, no dairy cattle and no grand parade finale of all the winning entries in the main ring, when the show's honorary president Emily Holden, carries on the tradition of her late parents to present the winners' trophies and rosettes.

This year the prize for the longest-serving farm employees Joy Bargewell, who has worked for the Chaplin family at Bush Farm, Nedging, for 30 years, and her husband Bernard, who has worked for 30 years for Aldous and Partners.