There's something quintessentially English about a country show - the animals in their pens, the cold beers, the shrieks of delighted children and the heavy rain.

They got the lot at Honley Show but even the worst of an English summer weather failed to dampen the spirits.

Thousands turned up to the Farnley Tyas showground on Saturday and certainly as the clouds shifted in the early afternoon and the sun began to warm things up, it became another success.

Show officials admitted they were as gloomy as the weather at 6am on Saturday when heavy rain and a mist shrouded the showground on which they had spent days working to erect marquees, show tents and animal rings.

But eight hours later, as crowds continued to pour in through the gates, the mood brightened considerably.

It was the 93rd anniversary of the show and this year was raising money for Netherthong Pre-School and Playgroup.

The show boasted all the usual attractions, with hundreds of animal classes ranging from pigs to poultry, and cattle to cavies.

This year show officials had to cancel all the horse classes because of the threat of an outbreak of the equine strangles virus and that obviously had an effect on crowds.

But the livestock classes boasted healthy entries and competition was fierce.

Trisha Horsley was exhibiting pigs in various classes including Hampshires and Middle Whites and was delighted with the response from the crowds pouring through the marquees.

“It has proved enormously popular. People never see pigs when they are out and about while they see cattle and sheep and a lot are fascinated in them.

“It’s also very competitive and I’m happy with the prizes we have picked up”.

There were similar scenes in the poultry section, with more than 200 entries. Section secretary Hayley Lockwood said: “The weather wasn’t at its best but that didn’t hit entries and we have had a lot of people coming in to see what we’re about!”.

Show judge Roz Boothman had the task of selecting winners in the highly-competitive egg section and said: “It’s a very high standard.

“I want to see good-shaped eggs, wide at the top, curling round at the bottom and of a good symmetry”.

Elsewhere there were noisy and enthusiastic crowds for attractions show as Punch & Judy, dog agility classes, birds of prey displays and the Inch Perfect motorcycle stunt team.

Ian Taylor, watching with his family from Holmfirth, said: “It’s great fun and certainly a great day out.

“I’m glad we came even though the weather wasn’t too good in the morning”.

Chairman John Purvis said: “The afternoon was great and despite the morning rain and gloom, it has been a good show.

“People have made the effort to come here and I think most enjoyed a super time.

“A lot of hard work goes into this for which I thank everyone involved. There has been a great atmosphere and although people were down in the morning, the mood lifted as the weather improved.

“We are here to inform people about agriculture and country life but we also want to entertain and I hope we have done that”