Sunshine smiled on the first day of the South of England Show yesterday, with not a wax jacket in sight.

As visitors sweltered in temperatures pushing 80 degrees, organisers even dared to play Why Does It Always Rain On Me? over the sound system, such was their confidence in the hot weather.

Without a drop of the wet stuff in sight, the Duke of Kent instead jetted in to ask how people were coping with the hosepipe ban that has plagued the South-East since last year.

More than 25,000 people joined the throng at the Ardingly Showground, near Haywards Heath. Another 65,000 are expected today and tomorrow.

Cows, sheep, and horses were endlessly brushed and trimmed, ready for their big performances. Some even had their tails curled for the occasion.

Adam Newton, seven, from Eastbourne, was among hundreds tending to their livestock.

He said: "I like it here because you get to see so many animals. It's much better than going to the zoo because you get to touch them and get to know them, like Parsley the cow."

But it wasn't just farmyard animals enjoying the exotic weather, as South African eagles and Serbian owls jostled for space in the sun with pigs, geese, chickens and goats.

Julian Ford, of Huxley's Birds Of Prey, based in Horsham, said: "The birds we bring are quite used to the crowds but they all have quite different personalities.

"Mara the eagle will run around chasing after me, whereas most owls are stupid - there's no such thing as a wise old owl.

"Mowgli, our owl here today, doesn't even do much flying, she thinks that's a waste of time. But the public like her."

In the farmers' markets, food halls and marquees, shoppers perused everything from pick-up trucks to cheese, children's toys to hot tubs.

Sun hats seemed to be de rigeur.

Megan Park, 20, has been selling strawberries at all the major festivals.

She said: "We've just been to Bath and after this we're off to Cornwall and Peterborough. They are all different but the people are friendly and the weather has been great.

"Still, I must have cut up millions of strawberries by now. I used to like them, now I'm not so sure."

The origins of the South of England Show date back to 1796, when the prize-winning bull Mentor took centre stage.

This year a special arena for swine, "pig village", has been created, and tomorrow a ten metre TV screen will show England's first World Cup game against Paraguay in Germany.

Guest of honour The Duke of Kent flew in to Ardingly by helicopter, only to be picked up by a Range Rover and driven 200 yards to be greeted by a brass band and BBC weather presenter Kaddy Lee-Preston.

Congratulating organisers the South of England Agricultural Society, celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, he said: "We are all only too aware of the difficult conditions faced by the UK farming industry at this time."

He was then introduced to members of the Women's Institute (WI) and presented with cakes and commemorative pints of Harveys beer.

Sue Teakle, of Country Markets WI, said: "He asked if we were having trouble with the hosepipe ban. We said , 'yes, but we're still managing to produce good blooms'."

In the main arena sawdust was spilt and axe blades bristled as teams of lumberjacks from the New Forest and Wales battled in competition with a team from New Zealand.

"This is definitely not something to try at home," one commentator announced, while records played on a Hip-Hop radio show as the axemen chopped through logs, stumps and trunks delivering "big heavy hit after heavy hit".

Pensioners Sheila Russell and Elizabeth Burnell, from Storrington, watched on, eating their lunch and looking slightly bemused.

They said: "We first came in the Fifties when they used to have competitions for tomatoes, which we used to grow. They try to keep up with these traditions but it's not easy because only so many people grow these things nowadays, but it is still a good day out. And the weather's lovely."

However, some traditions seem to be surviving, whatever the odds, and the hound show also proved popular.

Christopher Wysock-Wright, South-East chairman of the Countryside Alliance, said: "It has gone very well. We've had a very good show this year. There's no hunting demonstration. We've had no antis at all."

John Robson, 83, patron of the hound show, said: "I've been involved with this show for the best part of 30 years. The great thing is even if the Government has banished hunting people we've got tremendous support here."

Elsewhere politics was the last thing on people's minds, who were far too busy enjoying the sights - and the heat.

Patrick Obank, of outfitters DV Townend and Son, said: "We're selling lots of sun hats but nothing else. No one wants any coats, it's too hot."

After tackling a chicken at the opening ceremony of last year's show, Kaddy Lee-Preston said this year she hoped to grapple with a pig.

She added: "The weekend's going to be beautiful, hot and sunny. The biggest problem will be people getting frazzled to a crisp - and anyone selling umbrellas will be very upset."