Shropshire County Show will build on best traditions

Organisers of the first Shropshire County Show have promised visitors a 'top notch' event as they announced a record number of cattle entries for the extravaganza.

Roy Dodd, chairman of the Shropshire and West Midlands Agricultural Society, said they were expecting about 10,000 people per day to attend the spectacle at the West Midland Showground in Berwick Road, Shrewsbury, on June 26 and 27.

The show replaces the West Mid Show which had been run for 120 years but ceased to exist after it was hit by financial problems last year.

Mr Dodd said the success of this year's show would dictate how much creditors would be paid in the first year of a deal to repay them.

He said: "I am very excited about this year's show. It's a revitalised show under a new name. What we are trying to do is keep the best of the past and get rid of the worst of the past.

"This year's event is comparing very well with previous shows and we've got record stock entries for cattle. We've been helped by a couple of things, one being that we now have the largest number of Hereford cattle entries in Europe.

"I think we have got the feel of agriculture back here again and have agricultural dealers, some of whom haven't been here for a number of years, and we will also have machinery on show."

Mr Dodd said advanced ticket sales were encouraging and said he was grateful to main sponsors GKN Wheels, together with Nom Dairy and other backers.

Main ring attractions include the Bolddog Lings Freestyle Team of motorcyclists, the Red Devils parachute regiment freefall team, the equestrian inter-hunt relay, the grand parade and Young Farmers' Club floats.

The BBC television show Countryfile summer special will also be filmed there.

For further details and tickets visit www.shropshirecountyshow.com