TORRENTIAL rain severely affected attendance at this weekend’s Keighley Show.

But hundreds of people, including many young families, went along to the Marley showground to see the many exhibits and attractions.

Christine Marsh, in her first year as show secretary, paid tribute to the many locals who were determined not to put off by the weather.

She said: “We might not make a profit this year, but people came, which is the most important thing. It takes a lot of work to put this show together and the great success is that people came along. We really appreciate it.

“The good people of Keighley are amazing for turning up whatever the weather. They deserve a pat on the back.

“I’ve had to deal with a number of problems caused by the weather, so if I started with my worst year it can only get better next time!”

The show as usual featured marquees devoted to sections such as cattle, horticulture, ferrets, dogs, rabbits, poultry, and handicrafts.

Showjumping and other horse classes continued despite the rain, and some of the arena events went ahead, although the ferret racing had to be cancelled due to the wet grass.

There was a variety of trade stands, ranging from car dealers and garden furniture sales to the Men of Worth project military historians, Conservative Association and charities like the RSPB and Forest of Bradford.

By 3pm in the afternoon, when some bedraggled traders were packing up, just 673 people had paid on the gate to enter the show, well down on the normal figure of about 3,000.

Yet despite the weather, several sections of the show recorded a higher number of entries than last year when the sun shone.

The rabbit classes were well supported, boosted by the first appearance of the Yorkshire Area Dutch Rabbit Society to hold their own mini-show as part of Keighley Show.

Next door in the ‘fur and feather’ marquee poultry secretary Mandy Bush said there had been an extra 50 birds entered compared with last year, with overall 200 birds and 100 plates of eggs in this year’s competition.

The handicrafts section again attracted dozens of imaginative entries in classes such as Halloween table centrepiece, decorated Wellington boot, summer wedding and autumn glory flower arrangements, and children’s models made with recycled materials.

Section secretary Karen Walbank said: “Entries were up on last year and we’ve had some really good exhibits.”

Several members of Haworth Riding for the Disabled entered decorated horseshoes in the miscellaneous handicrafts section.