RESIDENTS and visitors enjoyed a lovely day out at Langcliffe's fourth annual village show.

Popular author Helene Wiggin, who writes under the pen name Leah Fleming, opened the show with a well-received speech.

Show secretary, Ian Johnson, said: “It was a great show. Entries were up and the new literature class was a great success.

"Nine poets and seven story writers took part. The standards were really high.”

The story winner was Helen Jarvis and the poetry winner was Phoebe Caldwell with a verse entitled Langcliffe.

Poetry judge – bestselling author and poet Gervase Phinn – said: “It is a wonderfully evocative poem, full of delightfully vibrant and original imagery.

"The verse has a superb sense of place. Langcliffe is vividly realised by a poet who clearly has a deep understanding and love of this part of the country. I so much enjoyed the very clever structure of the verse, the contrasts and the power of the language.”

The poems and stories will be published on the village’s new website.

This year's show was the first to be held after the loss of the village allotments, but despite that, produce entries saw a small increase. A display showing the history of the allotments was of great interest to residents and visitors alike.

The village institute committee served teas to raise funds for the building's upkeep.

The traditional show supper was well attended and the auction of donated exhibits was very lively, swelling the amount raised to £750.

Winners were: children’s classes – M Clark; handicrafts – Samantha Lewis; culinary – J Eccleston; preserves and Poppy’s Teas’ Prize (best preserve) – K Croll; produce and most points in show – I Johnson; fruit – D Wiggin; floral – B Johnson and A Richards; door hanging – Susie Lewis; art – Samantha Lewis and J Lavelle; short story – H Jarvis; poem – P Caldwell; Booths Prize (best art) – A Towler; Elaine’s Tea Rooms’ Prize (gentlemen’s cake) – C Eccleston; Garden Shed Prize (best produce) – J Sample.

Leah Fleming’s Special Awards: pottery – C Davies; children – L Soames; gate hanging – K Atkinson; poem – K Arkell.