But the weather was never going to keep the crowds away and about 10,000 people turned out for the 199th event.

It is the oldest one-day show in the country, held for the first time in 1796, and has only ever been cancelled because of war, disease or flooding.

There had been fears the threat of bluetongue might stop the important sheep and cattle displays from being held but a change of livestock movement restrictions by Defra, (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), dispelled that cloud.

As well as farmyard animals showgoers were able to see rabbits, poultry, dogs and ferrets, courtesy of Otley Ferret Welfare.

Entertainment included a motorbike stunt show as well as more traditional events such as farriers with a horse shoeing competition, dry stone walling, fly fishing and a Punch and Judy Show. Other attractions included Ben Potter with his birds of prey display, vintage tractors, and the tug o' war competition.

Also there was Michael Douglas, The Street Barber, from BBC's The One Show.

He crisscrossed the event to interview people and encouraged them to have a make-over.

The 35-year-old said: "We try to find really strange places – we've done an old people's home, Butlins holiday camp and now Otley Show.''

Show secretary Janet Raw said: "It all went very well. It would have been nice to have woken up today to the fine weather but we have had between eight and 10,000 people come along so I am pleased with that – that is the average.

"There were concerns ahead of the show about how much cattle and sheep we would get given that last year we were one of only a handful of agricultural shows to have cattle and sheep so we were very grateful to those who have made the effort.

"Despite the consequences of the bluetongue disease arriving in England, this year we have managed to get 60 to 70 per cent of our usual cattle and sheep exhibitors here.''

Planning is under way for next year's 200th Otley show which she promised would be "spectacular''.

"We have been planning it for two years already and are hoping it will go on into the evening with a fireworks display. The idea is to celebrate the 200 years by showing that history.

"For example we are hoping to get the first breed of cattle around in those days – Beef Shorthorn."

John Varley, a cattle farmer from Queensbury, Bradford, said: "Numbers are down because we are classed as being in a 'dirty' area re this bluetongue disease, but I would have thought that at least when it comes to Limousins the numbers are not far off what they have been in the past."

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