Thousands of people have been flocking to the second day of the Pembrokeshire county agricultural show on Wednesday despite poor weather.

The three-day event is being staged at the Withybush showground near Haverfordwest for the 43rd time.

Traditional rural skills are displayed

More than 26,000 visitors attended the show's opening day on Tuesday and numbers are expected to increase on the remaining two days as sunnier weather is forecast.

It is the highlight of the Pembrokeshire calendar, and although the show is essentially an agricultural event, it does provide a focus for all business and tourism interests in the county.

A team of Welsh axemen and lumberjacks have been drawing large crowds to their twice-daily displays.

Team leader Dafydd Cadwaladr said: "There's something special about this show.

"It comes after the Royal Welsh which is a highly competitive atmosphere - but here we can relax and enjoy ourselves."

The Welsh axe men are popular with the crowds

The event - believed to be the second in size only to the Royal Welsh - also provides local craftspeople with an excellent shop window to display their skills.

Wood-turners Jo and Leigh Harris from Rickeston, Pembrokeshire, have been putting to good use the cast-offs from the axe men�s efforts.

" We've been making candlesticks which will be sold for the axe men's charity," said Leigh Harris.

"We've had an awful lot of interest in our work.

"The older generation remember the wooden lathes we use and the youngsters can't believe how simple and effective it is."

The show is a four-generation family affair for Phyllis Davies, 73, from Milford Haven.

About 100,000 people are expected to visit the show

She has been attending along with her daughter, grand-daughter and great-grand-daughter.

She said: "I have lost count how many times I've been here.

"It's a very important event for Pembrokeshire - one which everybody look forward to and enjoys despite the weather."

Along with the local population, thousands of tourists also attend the show.

Visitors

Sally Havard and her family from Cardiff are on holiday in the area.

She said: "We are staying on an organic farm so we just had to come - its brilliant and good value for money.

The event is steeped in history and tradition.

The Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society, which stages the show, was founded 218 years ago by William Knox.