CAN you dig it? The bucket and blade brigade of the JCB Dancing Diggers display team scooped up the applause of the huge first- day crowd when the New Forest Show got off to a sizzling start yesterday.

Sunshine and the promise of a packed programme brought punters pouring in early to the New Park venue in Brockenhurst for the opening course of the annual three-day feast of forest, farm and country life.

While hunters chased rosettes in the main arena, little ones on leading reins trotted out at the head of the cavalcade of horses and ponies.

Dinky dexters and hefty Holsteins delivered the day's first gold and silver tops as dairy breeds milked the applause of livestock judges and spectators who thronged the cattle lines, while others flocked to see the sheep next door.

The Forestry Commission set out its stall in the shade of a woodland walk, where craftsmen demonstrated their age-old skills working with wood in a variety of ways.

Tomorrow's attractions includes the world championships of a pole-climbing competition.

To see more of the New Forest Show click on Echo Video News