SCORCHING sunshine could draw record numbers to the Great Yorkshire Show as a second day of heat took hold of the Harrogate grounds.

From the moment the gates opened, visitors soaked up the sun while eating bacon sandwiches and watching the livestock being prepared.

Visitors put on sun cream while others donned bikini tops to stay comfortable under the rays.

Show press officer Judy Thompson said it was hopeful attendance figures would be smashed.

"Certainly all the signs are that gate figures will be high this year," she said.

"The show seems to get more popular year on year; it's great to see so many people here."

While people battled to keep cool, two knights from the Royal Armouries, in Leeds, sweltered under a combined 12 stone of body armour.

Historic interpreters Andy Deane and Andrew Balmforth duelled with pollaxes - heavy weapons with spikes and a hammer.

"Come and watch us and see real men melt," said Andy. "The armour gets so hot you can't touch the outside. In a way the metal soaks up the heat but it gets so hot inside; we're sizzling."

The pair, both from Harrogate, hope to bring horses to next year's show and treat the crowds to jousting.

Meanwhile, Hollyoaks star Katherine Dow-Blyton, who lives in York, tried her luck at pole climbing in the Forestry Area.

Katherine, who plays Sally Hunter in the Channel 4 soap, scaled the 80 ft poles with the help of female world champion Josephine Hedger.

Elswhere, steward Andy Johnson entertained the crowds by jumping up and down on a mattress at the Komfi stand.

Andy, of Harrogate, is a cattle steward at the show.

On the President's Lawns, farmers were rewarded for their work in agricultural enterprise

Will Machin, director of The Balloon Tree Farm Shop in Gate Helmsley, picked up joint first for the best farm shop in the Yorkshire Agricultural Society Great Yorkshire Farming Enterprise Awards.

Mr Machin, 26, who runs the shop and cafe with his brother, Matthew, 28, formed the venture in April 2004 to meet customer demand from his pick-your-own business.

All the fruit and vegetables are grown on the farm and the bakery produces around 200 different products. "I'm chuffed to win; it's a difficult competition," he said. "There are a lot of excellent farm shops in the region so I take my hat off to them as well.

"The business is a good team effort that's come together and has been rewarded in a nice way."

Chris Woodall, 42, of Ledsham, South Milford, won best farm and conservation project for his arable farm.

He said: "I came second last year so it's great to win this time.

"Farming is a lot of hard work and effort and it's been especially hard this last couple of years but we've got through it."

Derek Ibbotson, of Colton, near Tadcaster, scooped second prize in the best arable farm category.

He won first prize last year.

Judy said the good weather was set to continue today.

She said yesterday: "I think it's been slightly cooler today with a nice breeze.

"Hopefully that will last as the heat isn't really good for either animals or people."

Updated: 11:16 Thursday, July 14, 2005