Almost perfect conditions on Saturday and Sunday attracted one of the biggest crowds ever seen at the Wiltshire Steam and Vintage Rally held at Oare.

Attractions at the rally held in the natural amphitheatre of Rainscombe Park ranged from Minis to militaria and from heavy horses to hawks.

There were displays of vintage motorcycles and cars, commercial vehicles, steam traction engines and vintage tractors by the score.

In the fields members of the Wiltshire Agricultural Preservation Group who run the show showed their skills ploughing and haymaking with heavy horses and vintage tractors, and there was a pair of stationary steam engines that pulled a plough between them on steel cables.

Dotted around the site were showground organs which provided a nostalgic musical backing to the many events and working displays.

Working crafts included thatching and spar making by Alan Coles and chainsaw carving by Tim Trowbridge and there was a threshing machine in action plus a huge log-saw driven by a steam engine.

There was a large number of stationery engines chugging away and a several scale sized steam engines made their way around the site.

Members of the Andover and District Model Engineering Society gave rides on a miniature steam train along a 100ft long track.

A marquee was packed with crafts and model making displays and this year, because of the heat both days, the beer tent was one of the most popular areas of the show.

John Head, president of WAPG, said: “It was definitely our biggest and our best show ever. We had a lot of good comments and everybody was very pleased with the way it went.”

Mr Head said WAPG were indebted to Robert and Lady Julia Hiscox for allowing the use of Rainscombe Park.

Treasurer Jo Tilling said it would be several days before it would be known how much the group would be giving to the Bobby Van Appeal, which has received more than £11,000 in recent years, and the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal.

The cup for the best restored tractor went to P Allen from Trowbridge for his 1940 Farmall.

The Cyril Telling Memorial Shield for the best restored pre-1945 tractor went to D Williams from Salisbury for his 1941 Fordson.

The rally will be back at Rainscombe Park next year on July 12 and 13.