THOUSANDS of people attended the first day of the Royal Lancashire Show - and fine weather ensured no repeat of last year's chaotic scenes.

Even at the evening peak, traffic was flowing freely off the site at Salesbury Hall Farm, near Ribchester, in stark contrast to traffic jams of 2003.

And those attending even got to bask in the afternoon sun, with the police officers manning the exits joking they might need suncream.

"Everything seems to have worked really well," said Rennie Pinder, chairman of the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society, which organises the event.

"One of the big differences has been that virtually all the show traffic was on site before yesterday morning, unlike last year when some of it was still coming in when visitors began arriving."

Yesterday was ladies' day, and the show field was full of women in expensive outfits and lavish hats.

The emphasis has been on providing something for everyone at this year's show.

The showground covers 125 acres of farmland and there are five main categories: agriculture, country crafts, equestrian, horticulture and trade.

People visiting the show are urged to leave the M6 at junction 31 and travel down the A59.