PESSIMISTS predicting that gloomy weather would ruin this year's opening day of the Great Yorkshire Show, were proved wrong yesterday.

The rain, forecast to turn the Harrogate Show Ground into a quagmire, failed to appear.

Instead, a cold start gave way to warmer weather as the clouds broke - and the crowds who ignored forecasters by turning up in their thousands, joined in this annual celebration of agriculture.

Although official attendance figures are not yet known, early indications suggest that the Millennium event looks set to be another busy one.

And, keeping alive the tradition of the show, Yorkshire's farmers failed to reflect their declining industry, with the highest number of competitive entries since 1996.

More than 10,100 competitors were expected to take part in 25 different sections at the three-day event, ranging from pigeons to cattle and foxhounds to flower arranging.

Show director Christopher Hall said: "The numbers are extremely good, particularly with the livestock figures holding up well and an all time record of 223 entries in the beagle section.

"The popularity of the show continues to grow across the board - with exhibitors in the competitive classes, with sponsors, with the number of trade stands and with our visitors."

His words were illustrated by a tailback of traffic which led as far as the A59 junction with the A1 at 8am yesterday.

The 50th show to be held at the Harrogate ground includes its usual vast range of attractions, this year including top-class show jumping, demonstrations of country skills, cookery and fashion displays, and a pageant which looks at the past 100 years of farming.

The show's popularity is demonstrated by the fact that, despite a disappointing summer, organisers expect to serve 20,000 cups of tea and coffee, 20,000 pints of beer and 1,500 lb of strawberries.

The 6,000 animals will be fed and watered with one million gallons of water, and more than 6,000 bales of hay and straw.

PICTURE: UNDER SCRUTINY: Spectators watch the cattle being judged at the Great Yorkshire Show Pictures: Mike Tipping