More than 6,000 people visited the Cornish Winter Fair on Saturday to enjoy a festive celebration of local farming and food.

The event, held again within the exhibition halls at Royal Cornwall Events Centre, Wadebridge, saw an increase in the number of people that turned out for the revamped event when it made its debut last year.

More than 1,000 entries were received across the competitive sections for the 138th Wadebridge Prime Stock Show, which forms the heart of the event.

Sam Poole from Holsworthy took home the top prize in the hotly contested cattle section, securing the champion best in show title with a Limousin-cross heifer. The reserve champion also went to a Limousin-cross heifer, owned by Edward Davies from Ilminster.

Roger Clemens from St Ervan had a successful day, his Aberdeen Angus-cross South Devon won the local cattle championship and also took the reserve prize with a South Devon Steer.

Gwen Renfree from Quethiock, Liskeard enjoyed similar success in the sheep section, which attracted just under 100 entries, her Blue Texel sheep were crowned champions in both the best single lamb and pair of sheep.

The reserve champion single lamb was won by Tracey Cobbledick of Poundstock, Bude with a Beltex-cross and the reserve pair of sheep went to Graham Tucker of Launceston with Texel-cross.

Alan Vague from St Issey, showing Lleyn-cross, picked up both the champion and reserve in the local sheep class.

Crowds flocked to the food and farming education zone created by joint event organisers the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association in conjunction with the National Farmers Union, Cornwall branch of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, Cornwall Food & Farming Group and North Cornwall Pony Club.

Families enjoyed getting up close to and learning more about the range of farm animals on show which included cattle, sheep, ponies, goats, chickens and a selection of turkey breeds. A British Lop pig and her excitable piglets proved particularly popular.

The 100 trade stands enjoyed brisk trade with some of the local food and drink producers running out of stock.

Butcher and grazier from Par, James Kittow, said: “This event is a must in our diary, it’s a chance to see our fellow farmers and loyal customers old and new. People were buying our sausages to take home so fast that we sold out by 3pm.”

Alex Finnemore from Deli Farm Charcuterie said: “It was a fantastic fair, full of fun and a great atmosphere, I’m looking forward to next year already!”

Ian Wells from Duchy Logs said: “It was my first time exhibiting and I can only say it was very impressive, the atmosphere was brilliant.”

Christopher Riddle, Honorary Secretary of the Wadebridge Prime Stock Association said: “The competitive side of the event was again very well supported, standards were as high as ever and it is encouraging to see competitors in the livestock sections travelling from further afield to participate.

“This event proves that the public enjoy learning about local agriculture and buying plenty of the fabulous produce that it creates right here in Cornwall.”