Otley SHOW is here - and it is officially bigger and better than ever.

The culmination of a year's work from a dedicated team, has seen a long list of new attractions lined up for this Saturday's event to try and ensure the show makes a welcome return to its former glory.

Animal entries are at record levels this year- beating even pre-foot and mouth figures.

Show Secretary Janet Raw said: "The animals are what everyone wants to see and we are absolutely thrilled with the number of entries.

"We have six new horse classes and entries are up by 160, cattle entries have doubled and we totally sold out on trade stalls earlier than ever."

One of the biggest areas to see an increase in entries is the Junior section.

Mrs Raw said: "This year we have 551 entries from school children, compared to 245 last year.

"I visited all the schools in the area and invited the children to enter various competitions that we have linked to the work they are doing.

"So for example, we have painted stones competitions, bookmarks and IT skills for the older ones.

"All the entries will be judged on the day and winners will receive their own prize money.

"We are particularly pleased to welcome schools out of Otley such as Hawksworth and Farnley."

This year will be the 195th Otley Show. The very first event was organised in 1796 by a group of local farmers and was staged at the White Horse Inn on Manor Square.

In 1946, the first post-war show was held at its new site at Bridge End.

The annual community spectacle was cancelled in 1983 for the first time due to exceptionally bad weather conditions.

And in 2001, the far-reaching foot and mouth epidemic caused all agricultural shows to be cancelled.

Though the legacy of the disease remains in the form of some restrictions, the event on Saturday will closely resemble the shows of old.

Mrs Raw said: "To the visitor the show will look as it did before with all the animals back on the ground.

"But behind the scenes, the regulations have meant an awful lot more work for me and my team of volunteers."

Mrs Raw and her team have worked long and hard to get the show back to full strength.

But Mrs Raw won't get much time to take it easy on the day itself.

She said: "I get to the show ground for about 6am and will probably leave at around 8pm.

"I don't get time to eat on the day. But the time flies and I really enjoy show day, I just love the whole thing. My job is a lovely job to have.

"I will try and get out of my cabin and have a look at some of the things going on, but I am very much working on the day.

"I am very grateful to all my volunteers and committees who have helped with the show and worked so hard to get it back to how it was.

"I think we have succeeded. I just hope the day runs as smoothly as it usually does."