THOUSANDS of people descended upon a picturesque country village for one of the premier events on Suffolk's calendar.Mediterranean temperatures ensured the annual Mid-Suffolk Show, held at Stonham Barns, near Stowmarket, drew crowds in excess of 10,000 over the weekend.

By Danielle Nuttall

THOUSANDS of people descended upon a picturesque country village for one of the premier events on Suffolk's calendar.

Mediterranean temperatures ensured the annual Mid-Suffolk Show, held at Stonham Barns, near Stowmarket, drew crowds in excess of 10,000 over the weekend.

The event, which is sponsored by the East Anglian Daily Times and is now in its seventh year, featured a packed programme of entertainment including a motorbike and mountain bike stunt performer, heavy horses, live re-enactments of 15th Century life, fairground rides and dozens of stalls offering local and international produce.

Other attractions included the Essex gun dogs, Pakefield ferret demonstration, a dog show and majorettes.

As in previous years, some of the cash raised from the show will be donated to various charities.

This year's recipients include breast cancer charities, the Tuberous Sclerosis Society , Suffolk Horse Society, Suffolk Horse Trust and rare breeds.

John Philpott, show director, said: “The weather has been wonderful. The good thing about the Mid-Suffolk show since we started seven years ago is that we have never had a bad weekend. We seem to be blessed with good weather.

“It's a family show. There's a wide variety of things and it gets bigger and bigger and bigger.

“The crowd has grown over the last few years from the very small beginnings of the Mid-Suffolk Show - that's why we had to build the Mid-Suffolk Show Ground.

“People travel from all over. We have a growing reputation.”

He added: “There has been a lot of hard work from the team. Everybody involved with the show has put in more hours than you would believe to organise it.

“We are appreciative of everything they have done. We have a keen and enthusiastic team who run the show and we want to say thanks to them.”