ORGANISERS of Craven's agricultural shows are planning to go ahead this year although there may be no sheep and cattle on view.

However, over the border into Lancashire, Trawden Show has already been cancelled for 2002 due to difficulties with DEFRA rulings.

The shows - major events in the Dales calendar at Gargrave, Malham, Kilnsey and Bentham - were all abandoned last year and it is unclear what restrictions will be in place later in the year.

A DEFRA spokesman said: "We are doing all we can so the shows can go ahead. At the moment markets and shows are still banned but we are working towards getting back to normal in time for the shows.

"We just can't say what legislation might be in place by the summer, but there will be tighter controls on markets and shows for always."

This week Malham announced it was going ahead and had plans for a spectacular show entitled 'Malham 2002 - Past and Present'. Organisers aim to look back at its beginnings in the 1940s and also to the future.

But there will be no sheep or cattle unless all restrictions are lifted for the summer.