ORGANISERS were today putting a brave face on the lowest Three Counties Show attendance for 20 years.

The twin blows of no livestock and wall-to-wall television coverage of the World Cup combined to hit the Malvern event hard.

Around 86,000 visitors were recorded at the three-day show, 12,000 fewer than when it was last held two years ago.

Despite being re-branded as the Three Counties Countryside Show and featuring more family-orientated attractions, the agricultural extravaganza - traditionally billed as the place "where town meets country" - couldn't overcome the handicap of losing its livestock classes to the foot-and-mouth regulations.

"There's no doubt the lack of livestock was a blow," said show Press officer Sharon Gilbert.

"We weren't quite sure what the public's response would be. Animals, of all kinds, are a central part of an event like this, but having been unable to stage the show at all last year because of foot-and-mouth, it was decided to go ahead this year as best we could.

"In the circumstances, we are quite satisfied really, bearing in mind only a month ago we had record crowds on the showground for the Spring Gardening Show and in August we are staging a two-day Summer Leisuretime Show here.

"In the old days the Three Counties Show was the only event on the calendar, but not now.

"Next year we hope all the livestock classes will be back and things will be back to normal."