IT'S all over for another year.

The curtain has come down on the New Forest and Hampshire County Show after three days of non-stop action and spectacle.

A huge number of spectators poured through the gates of the showground at New Park, Brockenhurst, for the annual celebration of country life.

Final figures are unlikely to be released for about two weeks but jubilant show bosses are already forecasting a near-record crowd.

An exceptionally large number of vehicles converged on New Park on Tuesday and the show proved even more popular the following day.

Car parks surrounding the showground reached bursting point by late morning after an estimated 10,000 cars surged through the entrance, sparking fears that staff would have to shut the gates and turn drivers away.

Families were urged to visit the show yesterday instead, resulting in the final day attracting even more spectators than normal.

But extra parking was provided and the show managed to avoid the traffic chaos seen the day before.

However, the problems experienced on Wednesday will loom large in the annual review carried out in the wake of every show. Officials are vowing to make any necessary improvements to the traffic management system.

Denis Dooley, New Forest Show secretary, said: "We have had huge numbers this year. We had a record number of cars in on Tuesday and on Wednesday there was around 10,000 cars, so it looks like it's going to be record numbers.

"I think that the event has gone really well. I'm sorry to all the people who thought that they were being turned away on Wednesday.

"We hope that the people who have come to the event have enjoyed it.

"The Household Cavalry had a meet and greet event on Wednesday evening, which is the first time that they have done that, and it was our most popular event during the show."

The event, which took place at New Park in Brockenhurst, featured a host of attractions including farm animals, horse and carriage displays, falconry, hundreds of stalls and food and kitchen demonstrations.

Bransgore farmer Richard Frampton said: "The show is all about catching up with good Forest people.

"It's also lovely to see little kids holding chicks, stroking goats and becoming part of the farming community."

Mark Young from Wessex Ferret Club, who compered the hugely popular ferret racing in the countryside area of the show's site, said: "It's been absolutely fantastic. I think that the club has been coming to the New Forest Show nearly as long at the event has been running.

"I think ferret racing is a bit unique and ferrets themselves are unusual. Every penny the public spend on their ferret racing bets goes back into looking after rescued ferrets."