CROWDS of people braved the rain and headed to the beautiful Lakeland village of Coniston this weekend to enjoy a traditional Cumbrian fair.
Residents and visitors alike came out in force to take part in this year's Coniston Country Fair.
The event is a celebration of Cumbria's agricultural past as its traditions were put on display in a modern-day arena.
Andrew Darwick, from Flookburgh, attended the fair with his family.
He said: "We've been a couple of times before but we were showing one of our dogs this time.
"We've always enjoyed having our whippets and the breed and it's nice for other people to see them. It's just a nice family day out."
One visitor, Claire Woodburn, brought her three-year-old son, Levi, to experience the show.
She said:"We have never been to Coniston Fair before so just wanted to see what it was like. We had a fabulous day despite the weather and our son Levi could not wait to get wet and muddy!"
The show had plenty on offer for people of all ages, from dry stone walling to fell running in addition to typical funfair activities for families.
This year's dry stone walling competition was particularly special as it welcomed television presenter and actor, Tony Robinson, who is filming for a new series.
Other competitions extended to the animal kingdom as ferrets, whippets, hounds and sheepdogs, to name but a few, entered the ring.
Some of Cumbria's top food and drink producers also headed to the event, alongside talented artists and craftspeople from across the area.
Linda Cameron, owner of Hannalin Crafts, is a huge fan of the fair.
She said: "It all went very well. There were a lot of people there considering the weather but people always come to Coniston.
"I've never had a show there where the weather has put people off. It's just a nice, friendly show with a lovely atmosphere."
Mrs Cameron, who makes a number of locally sourced wool products, has travelled as far as Scotland and Yorkshire to take part in these shows but believe they play an important role for Cumbria's tourist industry.
She said: "It's part of our heritage and we get such a lot of visitors here.
"A lot of people just go to Keswick or Bowness and they think they've been to the Lakes, but they don't get out to see the hills or the sheep or the people."
Cumbria is home to many agricultural shows across the area and Mrs Cameron is not alone in thinking these events play a vital role in maintaining Cumbria's strong identity.
Mr Darwick said: "It's important to keep these traditions alive.
"You go to other places in the country but here it's a lot more unique and we've the setting as well. Here, we're right on the edge of the Lakes. It's a special event."
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