WEETON is preparing to put on a 70th anniversary show to remember.

The village will host the landmark event on Sunday, when the gates open at 8am and thousands of visitors are expected to attend.

Special attractions this year will include an 'extreme' mountain biking demonstration, a Land Rover Defender tribute and terrier racing.

There will also be trade, food and craft stalls along with a host of activities, including children's races, rides and Punch and Judy shows for younger visitors.

As always, the show's centrepiece will be its traditional judging classes, which cover everything from sheep and produce to crafts and horses.

Show general secretary, Candy Waller, said: "We are all very excited about the 2015 show as 70 years is a big anniversary.

"We feel the pressure to put on a great show, but with all the wonderful volunteers we have to help out and the months of planning and preparation, we should be fine!

"On show day, I love getting down to the field at 6am and walking around before anyone else arrives, to check everything.

"There's a great sense of anticipation something special is about to happen.

"Then, when the volunteers, competitors, exhibitors, traders and visitors start to arrive, the field is buzzing with thousands of guests before you know it, all having a great day."

Live music this year will come courtesy of Guiseley Silver Band and a jazz band, while other attractions will include craftwork displays, a dog show and race, carriage driving and a fancy dress contest.

The event's vice-chairman, Paula Ware, is also looking forward to a special day.

She said: "We are immensely proud of our show, which started as a local gathering for the village farming community in the months following the end of the Second World War, but has evolved to become a much bigger event.

"At the heart of the show, we still have the agricultural and produce classes that were there from the very start, but every year we sit down and like to add some extra entertainment for the family.

"This time we will have terrier racing, vintage tractors, show jumping and an extreme mountain bike display team, and, of course, the children love to take part in our fun races, eat ice-cream and giggle at Punch and Judy."

Weeton and District Agricultural and Horticultural Society – better known as Weeton Show – was established in 1945, when the Earl of Harewood was one of its founding vice-presidents.

Admission prices for Sunday are £6 for adults or £3 for concessions. Gates open at 8am, with the first horse and pony classes beginning at 8.30am.

l See next week's Gazette and Observer for photos and results