BATHED in glorious July sunshine, thousands of people flocked to the Ulverston and North Lonsdale show to appreciate the finest livestock, arts, crafts and food the South Lakes has to offer.

After months of preparation, competitors and spectators filed into the showgrounds at Longrigg Farm, near Urswick, ready to have their prize animals judged, or soak up the atmosphere with an ice cream in hand.

The show might have lacked the drama of last year's show when a bull broke loose, but there were smiles all round as the first of the show rounds got under way.

Hundreds of breeds of prize British cattle, sheep, poultry and horses were put under scrutiny by an army of judges.

John Towers, 54, a Lancashire dairy farmer, was invited to judge the best in class of the cattle.

He said: "The animals have been an absolute credit to the exhibitors. There is so much skill shown in getting the animals prepared for the show."

For the competitors, the show offers them an opportunity to show the public the time, skill and care that goes into raising animals.

Ian Wilson, 45, who raises Limousin cows on his Ulverston farm, said: "I was getting my cows ready for the show at 10.30 last night.

"Weeks of preparation goes into getting these animals ready. We work 16 to 18-hour days as normal, seven days a week."

As well as animal competitors, human competitors were also put to the test.

Jonathan and Helen Wren, of Church Fields Avenue, Ulverston, were judging the children's arts and crafts selection for the first time this year.

Mrs Wren said: "It's a better show this year than it's been in a while, the sun is shining and everyone is enjoying themselves."

Mr Wren added: "Shows like these are important to keep rural traditions alive."

It was these traditions that drew visitors not only from Cumbria, but from across the country.

Couple Robert and Janet Campbell, both 65, were attending the show for the third time. Originally from Leeds, the pair have made a habit of visiting the North Lonsdale Show because of the good values they believe it passes on.

Mr Campbell said: "We like this show because its a traditional country show. It passes on good family values to the young children you see here."

As well as showcasing the finest aspects of rural life in Cumbria, the show also highlights the area's vibrant food industry.

Queues stretched back from stalls offering local cheeses, freshly ground and brewed coffee from Kendal and visitors were never far away from a sizzling grill stacked with burgers, chicken and sausages.

This year the show displayed the positive impact that it can have on the lives of ordinary people. Alice’s Dog Show was held at the show in honour of the late Ulverston teenager Alice Pyne.

The dog show was originally founded in 2011 as part of Alice’s Bucket List, where she had wanted to enter her labrador Mabel in a dog show.

After Alice’s death in 2013, the show has continued to be run in her honour, and now in its sixth year it celebrated the bond between local dogs and their owners.

The charity, Alice’s Escapes, which was founded by the teenager to provide holidays for seriously ill children and their families, invited two of the families enjoying a holiday.

Helen Johnson, 38, of Workington, came with her daughter Emily, six, who suffers from leukaemia. She said: "We'd be lost without the charity, they're a support mechanism for us."

Emily was delighted to take first place in the Child Handler Class and then go on to win Reserve Best in Show with Alice’s own dog Mabel, which Alice’s family brought to the ring for the children to show.”

Sam Williams, mother of Josh, nine, who also suffers from leukaemia said: "Being here is an escape, Josh is just so full of life being around the dogs."

Read more about Alice's charity, and it's inspiring story here