FARM animals, dog agility, a genuine Indian curry house and craftworks were just a few of the attractions at this year's Studland Country Fair.

The Echo-backed fair, one of Dorset's biggest annual charity events, attracted thousands of families on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

For the final day, celebrity Nicole Faraday of ITV hit series Bad Girls dropped by to officially open the show and sign autographs.

The fair, now in its 14th year, sported some new attractions, including Ower Farmyard where visitors were invited to meet geese, ducks and bantams, Billy the pygmy goat and Katie the 18-year-old shire horse.

There was also an Indian curry house on site with traditional curry served up by a family from Leicester.

The final total for charity is likely to top well over £5,000.

Billy Kinghorn, professional sheep shearer and farmer from Ower Farm, demonstrated the ancient art of sheep shearing to the delight of watching youngsters and their parents.

Atila and Felicity Aktas from Swanage brought along their three-year-old daughter Aylin to the event.

Felicity, 38, said: "I think it's great. There are lots of things for our three-year-old to do.

"We are really looking forward to seeing the horse's dressage and the music.

"It's a lovely family affair. Aylin has enjoyed the ice-cream and the trampolines."

Terry Lockyer and Georgie Dennis attended with their children Jordan, 10, and Bethany, six, from Westbourne.

Georgie said: "We have never been before but saw it in the Echo and thought it would be a nice day out for the kids.

"We are looking forward to the motorbikes and the dog show.

"It's just a nice, relaxing, happy day."

There were an interesting variety of stalls of liquorice, teddybears, hats and caricature-drawing. Other attractions included displays of tanks and vintage vehicles.

There were also more than 61 craft stalls with craftspeople travelling from all over Dorset and Hampshire.

There were dog agility demonstrations from dog training club Courteous Canines and demonstrations from a motorcycle display team in the main arena.

Martin Churchill, chairman of Studland Fair Committee, said: "The fair has been going magnificently.

"The fair has been extremely well attended. On Saturday we attracted about 3,000 people. It has been a big, happy crowd.

"The farm has been the most popular event we've had. We are going to retain the size of the show to keep it as a rural show. The bigger you get the more difficult it is to control."