MORETON Show is set to go ahead on September 1 without foot and mouth disease susceptible livestock but with a new Farmers' Area, a Countryside Area and an Activities Area as well as a full horse schedule.

The new Farmers' Area will include competitions for hay, grain and other farm produce as well as a place for those wishing to buy and sell breeding animals.

Past livestock exhibitors are being invited to bring their herd or flock boards as a way of indicating that they do have stock available.

There will also be food and drink available and other ideas are being considered.

Show secretary Tim Gardner said: "We really must do everything we can for farmers, not only for those who have lost stock to foot and mouth disease but also for those who have suffered badly from inability to move animals and also from social isolation.

"We believe they will need an event of this type and we are setting out to provide it."

Mr Gardner added: "I think we have a 90% chance of running but the risk is that foot and mouth flares up again."

Organisers intend to publish a horse schedule in the third week of June and entries will be accepted from any area.

However, current advice from the British Equestrian Federation is that competitors should not travel to the show if they originate from a place within 3kms of a confirmed or suspected case of foot and mouth or have recently visited such a place. More details will be provided with the schedule.

Mr Gardner said apart from the publication of the horse schedule, no significant additional costs would be incurred by waiting until the end of June before making a final decision about holding the event.

"In the meantime," he said, "it is important that preparations are taken forward as there will then be only two months left before the show."

Conversations with trade exhibitors indicated that there might be a sudden surge in demand for space from traders keen to find venues to sell stock which ought to have gone at earlier cancelled events, and the last of them are likely to be disappointed as the total space is fixed and no more can be created at the last moment.

Full refunds will be given in the event of cancellation.