SUMMER returned to the annual Royal Three Counties Show, albeit not completely, to bring the crowds flocking through the turnstiles on day three at Malvern.

Although the show was marred by wet weather on Friday and Saturday there were still thousands enjoying all the best of agriculture and trade stands from all corners of the country and the attendance grew bigger on Sunday to add impetus to the show organisers' hopes they would reach a target of around 90,000 visitors.

There was success in a variety of categories for a number of local livestock producers and traders.

Once again the show hosted a number of national breed society shows with it playing host this year to 28 breeds of cattle, 11 breeds of goats and 14 breeds of pigs in over 900 classes and 3,000 sheep were also due to attend - which was a new record for the event.

Although there was rain around on all three days visitors braved the weather to take in the delights on offer, with plenty available under roof cover including the indoor food hall.

The Gardening Hub returned for its second year with local gardening expert Reg Moule playing host again and there were other celebrities on hand such as Jimmy Dohery, Carol Klein and show ambassador, Adam Henson, a well known face on BBC1’s Countryfile.

The prestigious show is a celebration of the best of the countryside and rural life, celebrating excellence in farming, livestock, agriculture and food and drink across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, and during its three days the NFU president, Minette Batters, delivered an important message for the farming community.

She said that although the industry was facing a time of ‘seismic, unprecedented change’ the NFU would continue to fight for an orderly Brexit and champion high welfare British food standards.

Mrs Batters, speaking to a packed marquee at the inaugural Three Counties Farming Awards, said: “We are trying to be really open and honest with out membership. We have a divided country on what the future holds. We are an apolitical organisation but se are saying that we need to do what is right for British agriculture and horticulture”.

Among local successes at the show was a championship success for John Monk of Bromsgrove with his Highland cattle.

He collected the award for the Highland breed champion with James Dubh of Chadwich while the prize for Best suckling calf went to Capleadh Ruadh 2nd of Grafton from the Grafton Fold at Temple Grafton, near Alcester.

The Jacob sheep produced another success with the Champion female being bred by Saltway Jacobs, of Greenlands, Redditch.

Meanwhile the salted caramel ice cream produced by Droitwich-based Churchfields Farmhouse Ice Cream claimed third spot in the Dairy Ice Cream - any milk and any flavour competition, third with their vanilla seed ice cream and they were also third in the whole milk any other dairy produce section.

Next year’s Royal Three Counties Show will be held from June 12 to 14, 2020.