Committee member Rosemary Knott said: "We had a brilliant weekend. It was the best ever. It seems to be getting better each year.

"Because we had such lovely weather we had really big crowds."

Among those enjoying the events were visitors from all over the High Peak and further afield including a group from Tymbark in Poland who had been visiting their twin town of Whaley Bridge.

It had been touch and go whether the event would take place after a second outbreak of Foot and Mouth was announced.

The Sheep Show, only re-introduced last year, was the only casualty and had to be cancelled due to the restrictions on animal movements.

However the sheepdog trials were able to go ahead as usual because the sheep used were from the farm where the show is held.

"We were out on Friday night sticking signs on all our posters to say that the show was on because we had so many telephone calls from people asking us," explained Rosemary.

* The national ban on animal movements was introduced last Wednesday when 12,000 sheep were at Bakewell Market.

Special licences had to be issued to temporarily lift the restrictions. It took until Thursday morning for all the sheep to leave the agricultural centre.

Farmers across the region have greeted the news of a new outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Surrey with shock. NFU regional director, Richard Hezlet, said: "This is awful news; the very last thing the livestock industry wanted to hear."

NFU members can keep up to date with the latest information by visiting www.nfuonline.co.uk or by calling 0870 845 8458.