LIVESTOCK entry figures for this year's Great Yorkshire Show have held up well despite there being no let-up in the farming crisis, organisers have announced.

Sheep numbers are well up at 1,468, 21 more than in 1999, while cattle numbers stand at 859, a slight increase on last year.

Goats appear to be this year's surprise package with the second- highest entry ever, a dramatic increase from 258 to 323.

However, organisers have experienced a slight drop in the number of pigs, with 223 compared with last year's 241.

Christopher Shaw, show director, said "With an industry which continues to suffer, we were naturally apprehensive about how strongly classes would be supported, so it is extremely pleasing to see the numbers standing up so well.

"Farmers are still having a tough time, showing animals is both time- consuming and expensive, so we do appreciate the support they have given us.

"The Great Yorkshire continues to be regarded as the premier annual agricultural event of the North and as long as we maintain both the quality and quantity of the livestock it will remain so.

"We are a shop window for the industry and the development of the Food Hall means we can complete the picture and present farming from the field to the table."

Work will begin on the £2.25 million Food Hall building immediately after this year's show, which is from Tuesday, July 11, to Thursday, July 13, at Harrogate's Great Yorkshire Showground.

Livestock remains the nucleus of the event, with many animals already prizewinners from other top shows.

In the cattle section, some 20 breeds are represented, with record entries for Longhorn, Dexter and British Belgian Blue.