PREPARATIONS are well under way for this year’s Tendring Hundred Show - despite the damp forecast.

Organisers say the show ground, which has already sustained heavy rain this week, can cope with more wet weather if it comes.

But as a precaution, wood chip boards are on stand-by ready to be laid down to prevent an all-out mud-fest.

Tents have gone up and the show area is taking shape as more than 20,000 people are expected to turn out for the event held in Lawford on Saturday.

Show chairman David Lord said: “It’s been raining this week but we’ve been able to drive round the site with no issues. There are some showers forecast for Saturday afternoon but the show ground is very light land and very free running so we’re confident it can take some more wet weather if it has to without causing problems.

“But it’s an agricultural show, so some mud is expected!”

In addition to being a window for local farming, the show will also feature a sport’s area where visitors can try out 12 different kinds of activities, including, golf, skateboarding and squash.

Educational activity areas will be available for children alongside a lifestyle tent with interior design, decoration and furnishings.

New for this year is an NHS marquee which will feature a 27ft long walk through inflatable colon, as part of a display about bowel cancer and an operating theatre where staff will operate on a dummy patient.

Show favourites, including the Farming on the Move display, a food hall and craft tent will also be entertaining the crowds throughout the day.

A new highlight to this year’s programme will be an expert sheep farmer from New Zealand who will be bringing some of his flock to the show and carrying out live shearing demonstrations.

Mr Lord said: “We’ve pre-sold the same amount of tickets we usually do at this stage so I’d hopefully we’ll have around 22,500 people on the day.

“We are very lucky, we have considerable support in the community. We are an agricultural show but we try and represent the whole of Tendring as much as we can.”

Visit www.tendringshow.co.uk