HIT by losses of around £100,000 due to foot-and-mouth disease, the Malvern-based Three Counties Agricultural Society is going for broke next summer.

As well as staging its traditional flagship Three Counties Show in June, the society will also be holding another Summer Show in August.

The aim is to build on the success of this year's pioneering two day event, rapidly organised after foot-and-mouth put paid to the big June spectacular.

"Like everyone else in the rural community, we're looking at ways of limiting the damage caused by the crises in farming and diversification is quite simply the way forward," said Chris Milne, chief executive of the TCAS.

"We very much hope we'll be able to hold livestock competitions next year, but we also have to be realistic and flexible should circumstances dictate otherwise.

Next summer the June show will be enhanced by a large Game Fair section and held from Friday 14 to Sunday 16.

The date has been moved from a provisional Thursday to Saturday, June 20 to 22, because of a clash with the Shropshire and West Midlands Show.

The Summer Show will be held on Saturday and Sunday, August 10 and 11.