A picture special from the Lancashire Show, the ultimate celebration of the Red Rose County
A meeting in a Salford coffee house in 1767 sowed the seeds of the Lancashire Show. While there have been some fallow years, anyone who visited the event this summer would be in no doubt that it is now blooming.
A few years ago, after bad weather and cancellations, there was a question mark over the event's future but it was revived a few years ago by businessman Colin Mustoe who now chairs the show and stages it on his 150-acre estate at Salesbury, near Ribchester.
The show is one of the oldest agricultural shows in the country and thousands of people attended over the three days this year and enjoyed live music, animal classes and spectacular displays in the main show ring. There were also country sports beside the Ribble, fashion shows in the lifestyle marquee, cookery demonstrations in the food hall and thrilling showjumping competitions with thousands of pounds of prize money.
Show president Jack Straw said: 'It has been a marvellous show - the weather hasn't been great but it's not put people off. The credit for the show must go to Colin Mustoe, what he has done is fantastic.'
