The Prince of Wales visits the Westmorland County Show

The Prince of Wales has made his first visit to the one of the oldest agricultural shows in the country. 

His Royal Highness today met exhibitors at the Westmorland County Show - founded in 1799 - held in Milnthorpe, Cumbria, and learned about the county's livestock, food and pastimes.

Some 30,000 visitors gather each year to view 19 cattle breed sections, 29 sheep breed sections, pigs, goats, poultry, heavy horses, alpacas, light horses, hounds, terriers and gundogs.

Those attending can also learn about countryside pursuits and view demonstrations of rural crafts, forestry skills and Westmorland wrestling.

In the cattle marquee The Prince met one of the show's longest-standing exhibitors, the Robinson Family of Strickley Farm, Old Hutton.

Henry Robinson, son James and grandson Robert showed off their prizewinning dairy shorthorn cattle.

The Robinson family have had a presence at the annual show for 142 consecutive years, a tradition that stretches back six generations.

Ahead of meeting The Prince, James Robinson said: "I do know what a lover of British agriculture he is and a great supporter of it as well.

“We're not a big herd, we've got a hundred and thirty cows, sort of a small family farm, and we are doing reasonably well and we're on an organic system which is the sort of thing he's really passionate about."

It was the second year teenager Robert had spent the night sleeping at the show. He said: "It settles the cows better and it’s better for us being here in the morning, and you have a good party!"

The Prince of Wales sampled local spirits in the show's food hall, presented the trophy for the Champion Upland Sheep and witnessed a traditional Cumbrian wrestling competition.

His Royal Highness also paid a visit to a stall run by the Prince's Countryside Fund, which he established in 2010, and stopped by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust to see a wide variety of threatened livestock. The trust is one of The Prince's longest standing patronages, having begun in 1986.