FERRETS - not sheep - were the main animals on show at Skipton Sheep Day, held in defiance of the foot and mouth outbreak, which has devastated farms around the town.

But Skipton Town Council were determined not to surrender to the disease and went ahead with the annual event in a bid to attract shoppers to the town.

Opened by Look North presenter Claire Frisby, it looked like the brave gamble was not going to pay off as the visitors failed to show under the cloudy skies.

But as the sun came out, the crowds came flocking in in ever greater numbers to vindicate the town council's decision.

There were countryside skills to view as the High Street was closed to traffic, falconry displays and ferret racing.

Next year, said organiser Richard Colley, the Skipton Sheep Day will be back - and hopefully this time the sheep will be able to make an appearance