ROM traditional music to a dramatic display from the action horses which appeared in the hit TV series Poldark, the organisers of Bellingham Show pulled out all the stops to celebrate the event’s 175th anniversary in style last Saturday.

As expected, thousands of visitors turned out to celebrate the landmark occasion, with cadets and other volunteers working admirably to cope with the volume of traffic, and queues at the turnstiles.

The organisers opted to move the show across the road from the regular venue to provide a more spacious setting for a super-sized schedule of activities.

In accordance with the show’s rich heritage, sheep, horses, ponies and dogs were at the heart of proceedings.

But there were many modern influences, with a mini-village of trade stands and food vans, featuring perhaps the most impressive sweet stall ever seen in Tynedale.

There were go-carts, children’s fancy dress and even a crazy golf course.

North Tyne folk musician Kathryn Tickell got proceedings under way during a memorable opening ceremony.

This included an outstanding solo performance from 13-year-old local singer Abbey Tilley, who revived the century-old song Bellingham Show.

In keeping with the show’s rich history of Northumbrian music, pipers and singers performed throughout the day in a tent hosted by Kathryn’s own organisation, Magnetic North-East.

Atkinson Action Horses, which appeared in Poldark, drew crowds to the main ring, which also saw a parade of vintage vehicles, a dog and ducks display, gun dogs and beagles.

An impressive sheep show was won by family farmers M.W. & C.M. Ridley, of Shitlington Hall at Wark, with a Blueface Leicester.

The sheep, which also won the Blueface Leicester championship, was by a G1 Midlock and out of a ewe by C13 Firth.

Kevin Ridley said: “She’s our best one at the moment, with a tremendous carcass and very good skin, and she stands well.”

Bellingham’s Pippa Hunter (10) won the young handler’s competition a year after her older brother, Lewis, took the title.

It was a good day for the Hunter family, which also won three mule classes, and also took reserve champion BluefaceLeicester.

Other spectacles included show jumping, Cumberland & Westmorland wrestling, terrier racing, quoits, home bakery, arts and crafts.

Delighted show secretary Kate Dickinson said: “We put a lot of time and effort into making the 175th anniversary special, and we delighted that everyone seemed to really enjoy the day.”