THE annual Grasmere Sports is fast approaching as the Lake District village prepares for an action-packed day of traditional Lakeland sports.

With Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, fell races, track sports, hound trailing and a vast array crafts and trade stalls, there will be no shortage of entertainment at the Showfield on Sunday, August 27.

Chairman of the sports, Hal Bagot, said he was eagerly anticipating the sports, saying it offered something for everyone.

"I'm very excited," he said. "Of course there's the usual wrestling, guide races, hound trailing – all the traditional sports – and there's plenty for children as well.

"Grasmere Sports is in the centre of the lakes, now of course with its World Heritage Status, but it's the most amazing setting with the Lake District hills all around.

"You can see all the guides races going up the fells which is just the most amazing, traditional spectacle. Particularly the senior guides race, which last year had something like 190 people.

"The whole day is steeped in tradition."

Mr Bagot said preparations had been much simpler than in 2016 when the village was still reeling from the floods of December 2015 by the time the popular event came around.

"We're now fully recovered from Storm Desmond which affected last year's sports, but this year we're all systems go for a grand show," he said.

"It's a continual thing really, trying to improve the event. We've carried out works on the field to improve the drainage, and we've cleared a culvert we found under the ground which should benefit the whole village."

The sports get under way in traditional fashion with the Adamson Band's performance signalling the start of the excitement at 10am, with a full timetable set to run well into the evening.

Parking is available on the day, with the main carpark being before the pedestrian entrance from Stock Lane.

Advance tickets are £9 per adult, and £4 for children between 5-14. Prices rise by £1 on the day, while children under five go free.

Visit http://grasmeresports.com/index.php to book online.