THOUSANDS flocked to the Game and Country Fair at Usk this weekend.

Saturday's sun allowed many families to enjoy a day out watching displays, strolling around the stalls and sampling delicious food, although yesterday's rain hit attendances.

But organisers said they were glad to be back after floods meant last year's event was cancelled.

Children and adults were kept busy with clay pigeon shooting, gun dog events, falconry and ferrets.

The aim of the show, said organiser Glynn Cook, was to tell people about countryside life and the importance of gaming and country sports in the rural economy.

Mr Cook, director of the British Association of Gaming and Shooting in Wales, said: "It's going well. It's so popular because there's nothing else like it in the region and people have taken it to their hearts."

Ben Dalton, kennelman at the Curre Llangibby hunt near Chepstow, brought along the hunting hounds to show people.

He said: "People think they're killing machines and we like showing them that they're not. We like meeting people and telling them what we're about."

And punters enjoyed themselves too. Edward Hancock, 68, from Caerleon, said: "I enjoy anything connected to fishing, and there's plenty of fishing tackle on sale and advice available."

Anna Berni from Machen added: "We have gun dogs so we're interested in the show, and it's an interesting day out in general."