Young farmers in Congleton and other areas of Cheshire enjoyed a lively summer ball at Orchard Farm, the home of Ray and Jill Brown and family in Holmes Chapel.

All ages gathered on a warm summer night to tackle traditional country fun including a tug of war, jousting, the tossing of the sheaf by Hannah Barton (see pic ture 5) and a whole mixture of lively capers.

Young children enjoyed the ac tiv ities at the start of the evening, including balloon model making and a bouncy castle but as the sun went down, little ones were taken off to bed and the party really started for the older teenagers and adults.

Musical entertainment came in various forms, not least f rom Sarah Ekin on saxophone, and there were plenty of homemade foodie treats including panc akes served up to satisfy the hungry hordes