THIS year's Dairy Show is set to go ahead - without cows.

But there will be trade stands galore and more seminars and workshops than ever before.

The show takes place on the Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet, on October 3. Tracey Hulls, shows secretary, said: "This will be the first real opportunity for farmers and their colleagues to get out and meet together on common ground, see their friends and do some business at the same time."

She added: "As foot and mouth disease has put paid to agricultural shows across the country and ravaged the industry and the rural economy, farmers are desperate for life to regain some normality and start looking to the future again."