THIS year's Suffolk Show has been hailed as a “huge success story” after about 87,000 visitors flocked to Trinity Park for the two-day event.Stephen Miles, honorary show director, said “the very best of Suffolk” had been on display, with record numbers of livestock at this year's event.

By John Howard

THIS year's Suffolk Show has been hailed as a “huge success story” after about 87,000 visitors flocked to Trinity Park for the two-day event.

Stephen Miles, honorary show director, said “the very best of Suffolk” had been on display, with record numbers of livestock at this year's event.

Even the rain and overcast skies could not dampen the spirit of the show-goers, who enjoyed a feast of entertainment.

Mr Miles said: “It's a huge success story, a fantastic display of livestock, record numbers of horses, sheep, goats, pigs.

“The show has been the best of Suffolk on display. It's been a very exciting day. An enormous amount of business has been done in the show, which is very encouraging.

“Yet again it has been another family day out, with something for everyone. The Food Hall has been one of our real successes, with local producers showcasing their wares.”

Mr Miles said the exact number of people at the show is still being assessed, but is thought at this stage to be about 87,000, in line with the five-year average. And he said that despite the rain, the car parking area had not been too heavily churned up.

Mr Miles, who will be director for the last time next year, hopes to build on the success of the wildlife area in 2007, expanding the attractions there and introducing a fishing theme.

Among the crowds yesterday was the Rt Rev Richard Lewis, Bishop of the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocese, who said: “The show is a proper agricultural county show - with all the animals, there are more than ever before, with 1,300 horses here. It's hard to imagine how they all fit on the site.

“It's wonderful, absolutely magical, down by the heavy horses with the awards being handed out. The show is close to people's hearts.”

Show visitor Janet Rothery travelled to the show from the Halesworth area and said she too had loved seeing all the animals.

“As a farmer's daughter I like the animals and the craft tents, the woman's things. You can keep your mowers and your tractors for the boys.”

David and Brenda Minter, from Rendlesham, enjoyed the first day of the show so much that they came back for the second.

Mr Minter said: “Watching the little kids seeing the little furry chicks was lovely. There's something here for all ages, there really is. It's the first year we have been, and it's been super, and we would definitely come again.”

This year's range of attractions and stalls were, in the main, as popular as ever - but, at the Strawberry Fayre stall, Antony Ronaldson said it had not really proved the right weather for strawberries, and business had been fairly quiet.