Thousands watched the farmyard animals compete in the Grand Ring at the Royal Norfolk Show, but elsewhere in the showground competitors were vying for two other highly contested titles - that of the Best Dressed Visitor and Heavenly Hats competitions.

Eastern Daily Press: Royal Norfolk Show 2014 Best Dressed and Heavenly Hat competition.Royal Norfolk Show 2014 Best Dressed and Heavenly Hat competition. (Image: © Archant 2014)

Dozens of eager hopefuls lined up to have their picture taken for best-dressed contest, which saw two fashionable entrants rewarded with a £250 Intu Chapelfield gift voucher.

Eastern Daily Press: Royal Norfolk Show 2014 Best Dressed and Heavenly Hat competition.Rosemary Ison (best hat)Royal Norfolk Show 2014 Best Dressed and Heavenly Hat competition.Rosemary Ison (best hat) (Image: © Archant 2014)

The lucky winners choice of attire followed this year's popular trends - monochrome and bright colour.

Susan Aberdeen, from Watton, impressed the judges with a striped black and white pencil dress, with matching shoes and handbag. Pops of bright pink on her lips and nails added colour to the outfit.

Mrs Aberdeen, 47, described her look as 'dramatic but classic'.

'I wanted to keep it simple with a twist. I chose it because I think monochrome does make an impact. I tried to pick something fairly classic looking,' she added.

Rachel Blackburn also wowed the judges with her bright orange and pink dress and hat, from House of Fraser.

Mrs Blackburn, 48, from Little Plumstead, said that she had previously worn the outfit to her son's Duke of Edinburgh awards - but liked it so much she jumped at the chance to wear it again.

She added that the win came at a special time: 'It was my birthday yesterday, so today I dragged my husband off and he bought me a gorgeous ring. It's a great day.'

Colourful hats in varying shapes and sizes set the style stakes at the Royal Norfolk Show.

And judges had a tricky decision on their hands as they struggled to crown the winner of this year's Heavenly Hats competition.

Rebecca Downie, assistant marketing manager at Intu, said: 'We looked for well-planned outfits - it doesn't matter how much people spend or necessarily even if it is fancy.

'It's so difficult to judge because they all look so lovely - hopefully we will have this many entrants at tomorrow's competition.'

Rosemary Ison attracted the attention of the judges with her extravagant black monochrome hat.

Mrs Ison, who is in her 40s, from Swaffham, bought the hand-made hat from local designer Christiane Millinery, who is based in Acle.

She said: 'I didn't expect to win but a lot of people have said that they love the hat.

'I have been getting a lot of compliments on it.'

Mrs Ison beat out more than 30 other hopefuls to win the top Headline Hat prize - a £100 Intu Chapelfield voucher.

She added that it had been a 'really great' day.

What did you think of the fashion at the show? Email reporter Lauren Cope on lauren.cope@archant.co.uk

See tomorrow's paper for more pictures and reports in our 16-page show special.