Organisers of the Bowood charity dog show has handed a record £42,000 to 15 Wiltshire charities.

Up to 10,000 people attended the event in June and more than 200 dogs competed in the main classes.

The show has attracted more than 90,000 visitors since it began eight years ago and the total amount handed out to charities so far comes to a staggering £205,000. The event raised £38,000 last year.

Lord and Lady Lansdowne gave out cheques to their chosen charities at a presentation on Friday, to which show volunteers were also invited.

Lady Lansdowne said: “I’m absolutely thrilled because it was a really good day and thanks should go to the generosity of the public and our sponsors. It’s the nicest day of my year writing out these cheques. ”

Age UK Wiltshire, the Wiltshire Blind Association, the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust, Calne Welfare Charities and Derry Hill PCC were among those to benefit. Alzheimer’s Support, Hope for Tomorrow, The Prince’s Countryside Trust and Sevington Victorian School also received donations for the first time this year.

Mike Weston, who is on the show’s organising committee, hopes to raise £45,000 next year, to bring the show’s fundraising total to quarter of a million pounds.

He said: “It was Lady Lansdowne’s idea and first of all it was done to raise funds for Macmillan because her father died of cancer and Macmillan helped her during that difficult period.

“It started as a small dog show and just grew and grew. There were only a few thousand the first year and it’s gone from there.”

Next year’s takes place on Sunday, June 8.