FANCY pigeons and their owners travelled more than 65 miles to exhibit in Ryedale Show this year.

Fantail and Jacobin pigeons were amongst the favourites of the day, drawing large crowds in the fur and feather tent, with about 170 pigeons exhibited in total with many coming from Durham to try and bag a prize.

Secretary of the fur and feather tent Steph Myers said that over the years, both the pigeons and the hen categories had become extremely popular.

She said: "A lot of the pigeons have come down from Durham because their owners just love the show. It is a wonderful hobby for people to have and they like to show others what they have got."

General entries in the fur and feather tent, which included well groomed guinea pigs and fluffy rabbits, were up on previous years as well and judge Adam Collier told the Gazette and Herald how he spots a winner.

"When we have them out on to the table to look at them, a top exhibitor will stand out straight away," he said.

"If we have a rabbit for example which is well groomed and is said to be fit, then it will show itself as being fit."

Mr Collier went on to say that he had seen a variety of entries ranging from locals in Kirkbymoorside to people coming from further in the North to exhibit their animals which he said was a tribute to how fantastic the show is.

He said: "We want people to feel as though they can exhibit, even if they haven't done so at the show before.

"People come for the show because they know how great it is and they are now coming from further and further away."