Despite Mother Nature's best efforts to wreck the historic Widecombe Fair on Tuesday it was Uncle Tom Cobley and all who came out on top.

Heavy rain the night before, hot on the heels of one of the wettest summers on record, meant the mud was so deep in places that even Land Rovers were having to be pulled by tractor.

But the glowering skies failed to deliver the killer blow and thousands of people flocked to the show where, for 160 years, farming and the rural way of life have been the star attractions.

It was a particularly special day for Uncle Tom, alias retired tree surgeon Tony Deeble who has played the part for 11 years.

He was presented with a new smock, handcrafted and decorated with intricate needlework by Widecombe resident Christine Lamb.

Mrs Lamb, whose father had served as Uncle Tom in the past, made the last one 30 years ago and decided it was time for another.

'It's taken about 18 months and I thought I'd better make it now as I might not be around in another 30 years,' she chuckled.

'Although the calico is a creamy colour now it will become whiter as it is washed. Unlike the old smock which some people thought was a Norfolk design this one is a genuine Widecombe smock. I know, I designed it.'

Mr Deeble, sitting astride Freckles the grey mare, said it was both an honour and a great deal of fun to play Uncle Tom and he was grateful for the new outfit.

'It's really rather magnificent and it came as a total surprise, I knew nothing about it,' he said.

Widecombe Wag Tony Beard provided the main commentary, his lilting dialect providing a perfect aural backdrop to the comings and goings.

He told The Advertiser: 'I'm delighted to be here once again particularly as I've not long had a new knee. I'm not so mobile at the moment but here I am none the less.'

The day was packed with entertainment.

Pupils from Widecombe Primary School voted to perform their five maypole dances despite the early rain and were rewarded with warm applause from the crowd who joined in with the last dance, the Barber's Pole.

Elsewhere, sheep and cattle were on display, ferrets raced through narrow pipes and dogs of every shade and colour took part in the 'terrier' racing, exploding across the showfield like a canine firework display.

Dunsford cider maker Ron Barter quenched the thirst, Kenniford Farm free range pork sated the appetite and the craft classes delighted the eye.

The village itself was packed with stalls, children's rides and a throng of happy-looking people. Above them the granite topped tors and elegant tower of St Pancras Church grazed the low cloud, all around the air was filled with music from a fairground organ.

Locals and visitors alike blurred into one.

Gary Hayman, manager of the Bellever Youth Hostel, was born and bred in Buckfastleigh. He met German-born Sandra when she stayed there a few years ago.

The couple are now husband and wife and were with their young son Thomas.

'I come every year to see some old faces, it's just tradition,' Gary said.

'You always know it's the second Tuesday in September so you make sure the calendar's free.'

Sandra is equally fond of the show.

'It's brilliant, it strikes me as something original and very English and I love it.'

Rob Steemson, a Dartmoor man through and through, was born nearby and went to Widecombe School.

Now head of Dartmoor National Park Authority's natural environment service he had taken a day off to volunteer for car parking duties. On the way to meet a mate for a pint in the beer tent he said: 'For the people of Widecombe it's a great fun day out, a real mix of locals and visitors. It's a country meets town day and integral to the Dartmoor way of life.'

Chudleigh farmers Annette and David Martin had just won a group with their Greyfaced Dartmoor sheep. It was some compensation for a sickening attack on their flock two weeks ago.

'Two of our very best ewe lambs were stolen and slaughtered which was devastating,' said Mrs Martin.

'But we're soldiering on and thoroughly enjoying today at Widecombe Fair.'

A new attraction this year was the sheep shearing competition. Princetown farmer and show steward Leyland Branfield said despite the all-male nature of the competition there were some good women shearers about.

'There always has been, it's not only this generation,' he said.

'Unfortunately there wasn't a class for them this year but it's something we're still developing. Next year I'd like to see a class for the ladies and a class for the over 50s too.'

Many people talked about tradition at Widecombe Fair but what about its future and that of farming?

Julie Harvey, 21, from Bovey Tracey, was representing the Devon Federation of Young Farmers.

'History is important but there are not enough young people in farming for the future,' she said.

'I think food is going to be short but unfortunately the opportunities for people coming in aren't available because of the high land values. I'm lucky as my parents are beef farmers and they bought me my first cow when I was 11.

'I'm a hands-on person, I love handling stock. I know that being a farmer means working long hours for probably not much money but the prospect of working in an office is never something that's appealed to me, it's not my cup of tea at all.'

As the afternoon drew on, show president Tim Whitten reflected on the day's events.

'With the weather we've had I think we have done extraordinarily well,' he said.

'There seems to be a lot of people and the main thing is everyone is cheerful. They were cheerful at half past seven this morning and they have remained cheerful all day, it has been a great fair.'