Show 'to mark rural fightback'

This year's West Mid Show will prove that rural communities are fighting back after 12 months of disease and low prices, officials said today. The event takes place on June 21 and 22.

Organisers say the line-up will be a barometer for the tenacity of rural industry.

But the West Mid Showground event is also expected to be the last for chairman David Tudor.

He will hand over the reins to the show's first female chairman Annie Home-Dodd, who has been involved with it for nearly 40 years.

"It is an exciting time for everyone connected with the show. David's work has been invaluable," she said.

Mr Tudor underlined the importance of the rural economy and said parking charges, last seen in 2006, would never return.

He said: "The West Mid Show gives a feelgood factor to the community."

The main attraction will be the band of the RAF College along with displays by medieval jousters, Cossack-riders, monster trucks and the Red Devils parachute freefall team.

Although most of Shropshire is still in a bluetongue surveillance zone, the disease has not had a critical effect on livestock entries.

Commercial director Gary Tudor said: "We still have a very good entry of cattle, sheep, horses and goats - more than 1,600 head of livestock have been registered for this year's event - and though this is slightly down on last year it still represents a bigger entry than many other county shows.

This year's show will also be the first for its new president Viscount Newport.