IT MIGHT have rained on their parade - but that was not enough to dampen the spirits of thousands of show-goers deep in the heart of the North York Moors.

Last year The Press described the Rosedale Show as "sun-drenched". This year, Saturday's event was simply "drenched".

Although a thick belt of misty hill fog held off the rain for most of the day, a torrential storm at 4.30pm brought the show's Grand Parade to a thundering halt. But North Yorkshire folk are nothing if not resilient and, as the rain subsided, the show picked up again in earnest.

Malcolm Leckenby, show secretary, said: "The weather was atrocious, a real thunderstorm. However, we still managed to get through everything and complete the entire programme - although the show-jumpers had to wait until after the storm.

"It hasn't been a record-breaker, but it has been a really good show nonetheless. Entries were up in the cattle - the most we have had for years - and they were of a very good standard. Entries in ponies were down, and entries in the produce tent were also down, although, that was probably due to the very hot weather during the growing season."

The show at Rosedale Abbey has been going since 1871, and attracts thousands of people to the remote moorland.

The picturesque showground heaved with animals, tractors and people, all to the sound of music from the Malton White Star Band.

A few years ago the show's future looked bleak, and organisers had to issue a desperate plea for people to help run it.

Now, the show is in better shape than ever.

Malcolm said: "The rural setting is what makes the Rosedale Show what it is - surrounded by heather moors, in the heart of the abbey.

"The highlight for me was meeting old friends and welcoming back exhibitors who have returned. Of course, we hope they will all come back again next year - on a sunny day."