ABOUT 500 hardy visitors braved the wet weather to attend the Ilmington Village and Horticultural Show held on Bank Holiday Monday.

The show was opened by the village May Queen, Anna Whittaker, aged 11, from the back of one of the classic cars on display, a Triumph Stag owned and driven by John Sargeant.

Visitors were rewarded with an array of more than 30 stalls exhibiting arts and crafts, books, homemade cakes, games and challenges.

In the main ring were combat displays by the Birmingham Vikings, agility dogs, a classic vehicle parade, and marching music by the Shirley Pipe Band.

Major Mustard's puppet show again proved popular with the children and the AD Concert Band played throughout the afternoon. The horticultural section proved popular once again, drawing hundreds of entries.

John Wilber, secretary of the Ilmington Show committee, said; "Our sincerest thanks go to everyone who attended the show despite the poor weather conditions but I know everyone enjoyed the experience and displays.

"We will be back here next August bank holiday and, hopefully, will have better weather and even more stalls and entertainment."

The show aims to raise monies for local charities and in 2013 donated more than £2,000.