Organisers of the Bingley Show say it will still go ahead - despite fears it may be hit by the recent foot and mouth outbreak.

Members of the Airedale Agricultural Society, who have organised the 127th annual event, have vowed it will go on as planned at Myrtle Park on Sunday.

However, a nationwide ban on the movement of sheep, cattle and pigs has been brought in after the disease was found on a farm near Guildford in Surrey.

Spokesman David Pullman said the show will have to observe the ban on transporting livestock, unless it was lifted by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Mr Pullman said: "It is disappointing that we may have to lose the cattle and sheep and we will miss them.

"But we are still going to go ahead, it will not be the end of the show. Things could even change, we are not making any rash moves.

"We are still hoping that Defra may change their minds because their decision to ban transporting livestock seems to be a quick gut reaction. There is no reason why the show should not go on."

Mr Pullman said that about 13,000 people are expected to flock to the show, to see attractions such as The Red Devils parachute display team and one of this summer's star attractions, Titan the comedian robot.

He said: "We have got good enough attractions to bring the visitors in. Titan the robot was at the recent bike show and at the Bakewell Show and was a major attraction. All the other things - horticulture, crafts, cats and dogs - will be there, so the majority of events will still go ahead."

An emergency operation to halt a new epidemic of foot and mouth swung into action over the weekend as farmers reeled at the confirmation of a fresh outbreak.

A three-kilometre protection zone and a 10k surveillance zone has been imposed around the farm in Wanborough, Surrey.

The Bingley Show faced a crisis in 2001 after it was cancelled because of the foot and mouth outbreak. And in 2002 it had to be abandoned at the last minute because of access problems.

e-mail: marc.meneaud@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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