VALE of Evesham MP Peter Luff is to be the next president of the Three Counties Agricultural Society - and he is delighted.

"I regard this as a huge privilege and honour," he said. "It is about the biggest compliment your county can pay and I will work hard to repay the compliment by the society."

Mr Luff has a keen interest in and considerable knowledge of the farming and growing industry. He was for three years chairman of the House of Commons Agriculture committee and a leading member of The Middle Way, the group formed to regulate fox hunting in a bid to prevent a ban.

"I do have a very agricultural constituency," Mr Luff said. "It covers all sections of the industry from relatively small plant growers in the Vale of Evesham to quite large arable operations, as well as livestock farmers."

Mr Luff, who will officially become president in December, said it was quite a big commitment, but one he was looking forward to with great enthusiasm.

"The Three Counties Agricultural Society is a very active body," he said.