The next generation of farmers are being targeted by the 165th annual Cockermouth Agricultural Show.

The show, at The Fitz on Low Road, opens at 9am on Saturday and includes competition and entertainment for all ages including duck herding, show jumping, wrestling, tug-of-war and judging of classes including cattle, dogs and sheep.

Lake District Wildlife Park workers will also bring meerkats to the show for the first time.

Norma Boyes, secretary of the organising committee, said: "We want to cater for all generations and particularly young people, who seem to be interested in meerkats nowadays.

"We're also reintroducing something we used to hold quite a number of years ago which is the tug-of-war event.

"It's proving popular with the young farmers and we thought it would be an opportunity to recreate some of the old activities that the show used to be involved with.

"We're going a little bit back to our roots."

Teams of eight with no more than two female members can enter the tug-of-war on the field before 1pm.

Norma, who has been taking part in Cockermouth Agricultural Show since entering as a child more than 60 years ago, said the show's survival was down to the determination of the committee to adapt over the years.

She said: "It's had to grow to accommodate a wider audience. It couldn't stay just for the farming community but we keep agriculture at the heart of it.

"One of the reasons we've survived is because it is such an amazing committee.

"I think it's important and it's an achievement to all work together, we've got a fantastic community of volunteers and they all work hard."

The event shows no signs of slowing down and with organisers aiming to reach its bicentenary, Norma is adamant it still has a lot to offer the town despite its age.

She said: "Even on a wet day, we have about 7,500 people so it's the largest single-day event in the calendar around Cockermouth.

"I think the town is usually more busy on the show than it is on New Year's Eve so that says a lot for what it's bringing to the area.

"We've got outstanding entries in the agriculture classes for cattle, sheep and poultry and for the industrial section we've had more than 1,200 entries, which is a record for the show.

"People are still keen to show off and support the event and the farming community going forward."

Tickets are £7 (£5 concs) and family tickets are £20.

There will be a free park and ride bus from the Lakeland Livestock Centre, off the A66, from 10am and a shuttle bus service from Cockermouth Main Street, from 10am.