VISITORS to the Suffolk Show can expect clear skies and glorious sunshine this afternoon.

After a fairly grey start the clouds have disappeared and the sun is shining.

Thousands of people have flocked to Trinity Park in Ipswich since the gates opened early this morning.

The Flower and Garden Experience has been particularly busy - with seven exhibitors who won medals at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show all on display.

It includes Brian and Pearl Sulman of Mildenhall, who scooped their 49th gold for their prize Pelargoniums.

Fuchsia specialists Potash Nursery, of Stowmarket, which won a silver gilt are also on show, along with Ken Muir of Clacton, who picked up a silver flora for strawberries and fruit trees.

Senior steward Stephen Miles said: “It really does send out a powerful message about the quality of exhibitors we attract to the show.”

The livestock competitions are also on going, while youngsters are enjoying getting up close and personal with some of their farmyard favourites from cows and pigs through to sheep and goats.

Wheelchair athlete Brian Alldis has been encouraging people to get more active for 2012 in time for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

He has been on hand in the sport’s zone for Sports Suffolk, which has organised a bumper programme of activities from golf and running races through to tag rugby and handball.

Suffolk Sport wants to get 25,000 people more active, more often by 2012.

And the fun looks set to continue this afternoon, with the highlight a display from an Apache helicopter at 2pm.

A team of Red Devils are set to parachute from the aircraft into the grand ring and simulate securing an area for rearming and refuelling.

The display is expected to last around 45 minutes and has been created especially for the Suffolk Show as part of the Suffolk Agricultural Association’s mutual partnership with the local military.

Executive director Christopher Bushby said: “It is a tremendous thrill for us to have the Apache once again at the show.

“We feel very privileged and are extremely grateful to the military for putting on this fantastic display for us. At a time that is so difficult for the families they represent we want to express our commitment and support to them.”