SUNNY skies provided the perfect backdrop for the second day of the New Forest Show as thousands of people crammed through the gates at New Park showground near Brockenhurst.

Amid the throng of families, visitors and show members vying to catch sight of prancing ponies and perfect piglets, attention was also lavished upon the prize-winning sheep and New Forest ponies.

There was plenty of cooing over cattle and calves with the alpacas also attracting a crowd to their pen, although the mid-morning sun saw them enjoying a snooze to avoid the eyes of interested bystanders.

Show favourites Adams Axemen performed their impressive lumberjack display while in the countryside area, children delighted in seeing the ferret racing, hunting hounds, drug dog display and falconry.

Sweet-smelling blooms filled the flower tent alongside giant vegetables and plenty of tasty goodies to suit every appetite available in the food tent.

Local Olympian Todd Bennett, a silver medallist in the 4x400m men’s relay at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, also made an appearance at the New Forest District Council stand to mark the countdown to the Olympics, which was exactly a year yesterday.

Stewarts Gardenlands produced their annual eye-catching meadow with this year’s garden taking an elves and wizards theme.

Steam-run thrashing machines fired up the old-time farming area for those wanting a touch of nostalgia from the rural show with Rod Poynting’s expert woodturning also captivating passers-by.

Jackie Neylon, press spokesperson for the show, said: “It’s better than ever. Numbers have looked good, although we won’t have final figures yet but pre-show ticket sales broke previous records.”