The rain held off on the Sunday and the sun shone brightly on bank holiday Monday bringing smiles to the faces of show visitors, exhibitors and organisers alike.

The show, sponsored by The Melton building society, featured traditional livestock displays, countryside craft demonstrations, showjumping, local produce, dog show, children's activities and a show ring with a packed programme of events from vintage tractors to motorbike daredevil Jason Smyth's Adrenalin Tour.

And new initiatives, such as a free bus service to the showground from Melton town centre, live cookery demonstrations and tastings and church services were all well received. It is thought visitor numbers will hit the 25,000-mark.

Pat Bailey, chairman of Leicestershire Agricultural Society, said: "This was our third show here and it keeps getting better thanks in no small measure to the tremendous support we've received from the agricultural community and from Melton.

"The action in the main arena was non-stop and it was great to have the showjumping back thanks to ground improvements we've made at the site."

Show administrator Andy Hardy-Smith added: "The show is important as it gives everyone in the rural community a real lift. It can feel at times that it's one thing after another - the latest being Bluetongue restrictions which meant cattle and sheep entries were 40 per cent down this year - but everyone leaves here with a smile on their face."

Derek Kerr, of Brooksby Melton College and county organiser of the Young Farmers' Clubs, said: "There have been big improvements to the show site and the organisers have really got the hang of it. This show was the best yet."

And Steve Jeal, secretary of Melton NFU, added: "The society has put a tremendous amount of effort in and fortunately the weather, which can make or break the show, stayed fine.

"The economic climate has been improving for arable farmers although things remain tough for livestock farmers so it was important the show went well and I was pleased to see it was well supported by both town and country."

The Federation of Small Businesses launched its Keep Trade Local campaign at the show calling on people to support independent shops and businesses and sign a petition on the No 10 website at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/keeptradelocal

More than 300 people attended the curtain-raising show dinner on Friday when Jenny Pitman OBE, the racehorse trainer who grew up on a local farm, was guest of honour. She spoke movingly about her childhood, her battle with thyroid cancer, and the horses in her life such as Corbiere (Grand National winner in 1983) and Garrison Savannah (Cheltenham Gold Cup winner 1991) which she described as 'my meditation, medication and my mates'.