SHOWJUMPING, heavy horses, dog agility displays and a donkey show drew thousands of people to the Ellingham and Ringwood Show on Saturday.

Events in the main arena included a falconry display and shire horses, and the marquee offering home-made produce was also popular at the family event held at Somerley Park.

Animals and their owners could take part in a fancy dress competition while younger visitors enjoyed stroking the animals in the petting zoo and looking at the birds, spiders and snakes in the raptor and reptile marquee.

Delicious and quirky cakes, breads and scones were on show for the produce classes.

Show spokesman Michael Lingam-Willgoss said: “We thought we were going to be hit by the storm but we had this wonderful window where we didn’t have any rain at all.

“It was a glorious day. We had lots of children and families come down. We were inundated with people saying what a fantastic show it was.”

The 72-year-old, who has helped organise the show for the last 40 years, said between 20,000 and 22,000 people are thought to have attended the event.

The Ellingham and Ringwood Agricultural Society is a registered charity and donates thousands of pounds to good causes each year.

Mr Lingam-Willgoss said last year the society awarded £30,000 to various local charities and groups including the Bournemouth Leukaemia Fund, the 3rd Ringwood Scout Group, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, Forest Holme Hospice and Rotary clubs.