Selby farmer Frank Howie now owns one of the Great Yorkshires Show's arable contest trophies after being named winner for the third year.

His remarkable achievements earned him special permission giving him the right to keep the prize instead of returning it at the end of the year.

Mr Howie, from Kelfield Lodge, Kelfield, near Selby, said: "I suppose if I did return it, the trophy cabinet would look quiet bare now. I'm used to its being there."

He has now been victorious in the combinable and root crops section in 1995, 1999 and 2000.

Last year, his brother and partner John Howie, picked up the show's Farm of the Year honour.

Frank said: "It's wonderful to win again."

Tony Biggin, from Warter Priory Farms, near York, won the combinable crops prize, while the lowlands non-dairy livestock trophy was won by Sam Blacker, of Wilstrop Hall Farm, Green Hammerton.

The Farm of the Year Award was this year won by father-and-son team Ken and Colin Donald, who keep pigs and poultry on their farm near Northallerton.

Ken said: "There has been talk of how bad things are, but this is a pleasant relief in the middle of all that. "

PICTURE: Farm of the Year awards went to Frank Howie, left, of Kelfield Lodge, Kelfield, near Selby; Sam Blacker, of Wilstrop Hall Farm, Green Hammerton; Colin and Ken Donald, of Mount Pleasant Farm, Northallerton; and

Tony Biggin, of Warter Priory Farm, Warter