Game show is a big hit

The actor, famous for his role in The Railway Children, as the voice of The Wombles and more recently as ageing lothario Wally Bannister in Coronation Street, took part in a charity clay pigeon shoot.

He joined actor and former footballer Vinnie Jones and television soap actors in efforts to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Mr Cribbins, a keen sportsman and defender of countryside pursuits, said he was having a marvellous time at Harewood.

The actor, who travelled from his home in Surrey for the three days, said: "I'm here for the three day charity shoot and am having a great time, it's a really wonderful event."

The 46th CLA Game Fair, which attracted a record 131,000 people, was declared a great success by organisers the Country Land and Business Association.

A spokeswoman said the event, which is held every four years at Harewood, broke last year's record of 126,000 set at Broadlands.

She said: "It was extraordinary, there was a massive showing of countryside people and a really successful event. Harewood was the perfect setting, as the numbers who came proved."

The event, which ran from Friday to Sunday, was expected to attract 110,000 people with police predicting long traffic tailbacks.

In the end, soaring temperatures, the lure of trying out target shooting, fishing and off-roading, and more than 800 trade stands, attracted people from far and wide.

Jenny Ashworth from Harrogate, who was at the event with her husband and two children, said: "We've had a wonderful time, there's so much to see and really too much just for one day. We were sorry we'd left coming until the last day.

"I've never seen so many working dogs together at the same time, and the children thought the dog creche was a great idea."

Throughout the three days there was a range of attractions including carriage driving, dog handling, natural methods of horse training and even Otley's all women Morris dancers, The Buttercross Belles.

Trade stands covered all aspects of countryside living and hobbies with whole sections divided into themed villages - such as a Welsh and Irish village - sections for horse enthusiasts, anglers and ferreting.

George Dobbs from Skipton said: "I'm a great supporter of countryside sports so this has been a fantastic event for me. There is really so much to see and do, it's difficult to know where to start."

Visitors were encouraged to try out a new sport or hobby, under the guidance of experts.

John Standeven, the organising committee member running the event's Give it a Go at The Game Fair section, said the idea was to show people how accessible recreational opportunities really were.

"We wanted to offer a fun day out for all the family, but at the same time reach out to everybody who came and show them how much is going on in the countryside and how easy it is to become involved. so, whether its clay pigeon shooting, catapults or crossbows, firing a muzzle loading gun or learning how to pass a rugby ball it was available for all ages."

The Countryside Alliance took the opportunity to gain support for its opposition to the Government's Anti Hunting Bill. Members of the alliance wandered through the crowds with placards claiming 59 per cent of people wanted to keep hunting.

Two days was not enough to see everything this fair had to offer

THE sheer size of this show was just something else. In a picturesque setting in a valley bowl to the left of the main drive into Harewood House it provided a spectacular backdrop for what is claimed to be the world's biggest country fair.

Anticipated traffic problems with over 40,000 people a day making their way to the fair certainly never materialised over the two days I visited the event.

A leisurely drive through Arthington, directed in through the back gate at Weardley and straight into a parking spot.

Even on the second day when I failed to arise at the appointed time, being tired out from walking round the vast show site the previous day, presented no problems.

My daughters frequently moan to me "isn't there anyone you don't know" but over two days at the CLA Game Fair in the crowd of over 40,000 each day I only came across a couple of people I knew, such was the size of the event.

One was a Buttercross Belle from Otley there to take part in the Morris Dancing and the other was former Leeds United player and Barnsley manager John Hendrie.

John and his family were there to meet up with his brother-in-law who was one of the dog judges!

The fair presented all things glorious for anyone with an interest in the countryside and the continuation of rural crafts, rural traditions and ways.

It also carried a very serious message from the Countryside Alliance seeking support for its opposition to the Government's Anti-Hunting Bill.

They continually hammered home their message that 59 per cent of the British population want to keep hunting. Indeed there was no lack of support from the youngsters who had been provided with a wall on which to send their messages to Tony Blair urging him to let them have the choice.

At a press conference at the Game Fair the chairman of the Countryside Party fighting for all rural issues, Jim Crawford, said: "By supporting the Countryside Party's campaign existing efforts by the various organisations will be underpinned by true political representation dedicated to the stout defence of all that their thousands of members hold dear.

"The traditional methods of showing dissatisfaction or trying to influence Government have failed miserably. A total of 407,000 of us marched last September, we have written countless letters to our MPs and we have signed petitions galore.

"All these efforts have come to nothing. If country people unite under our banner we have the potential to be a significant political force in Britain.

"Would the politicians in Holyrood and in Westminster have continued with their persecution of hunting in the face of genuine elected resistance?

A host of celebrities attended the fair with Vinnie Jones and Bernard Cribbins taking part in the celebrity clay pigeon shoot along with stars from Emmerdale and Coronation Street. They were raising money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Candlelighters.

Emmerdale actress Lorraine Chase was to be found in the Totally Food Show.

Woven through the whole event was a 'Give It A Go' theme encouraging visitors to take part in skills as diverse as clay pigeon shooting and sub aqua diving, tree walking and 4 x 4 driving.

Ben Bradshaw, the Countryside Minister for DEFRA, visited the Fair on Friday and tried his hand at fly fishing and took to the treetops for some aerial trekking. Young and old alike tested their skills at activities such as field archery, quad biking and rugby with Leeds Rhinos players.

There were numerous displays in the main ring from carriage driving to polo, from falconry to a parade of hounds as the crowds basked in glorious sunshine.

They could look and admire as Katy Cropper herded dogs, Bramhope's Lynn Henry was involved in the Parelli Natural Horsemanship display and big names from the angling world performed demonstrations down on the lakeside.

Indeed there was something for everyone as Clarissa Dickson Wright signed books, internationally known chefs as well as locals from well-known Yorkshire eating establishments gave demonstrations.

With over 800 trade stands there was a myriad of things to see - perhaps we should have taken one of the golf buggies to ride round the site.

We went for two days and still did not get round everything there was to see.