WHARFEDALE received a major boost this week when the organisers of one of its most popular agricultural shows announced that their event will go on.

Just seven days after Otley Carnival organisers cancelled their event due to the foot and mouth crisis, Arthington Show committee agreed to hold the show as planned on July 22.

But they agreed that the show would still be cancelled if there was a foot and mouth outbreak in the area. They will review the situation at a special meeting on May 28.

Show secretary Sheila Dickenson said the show would go ahead without sheep or cattle and will this year concentrate on horses, a dog show and home produce and horticulture.

Mrs Dickenson said: "It was a difficult decision to make, but the majority of us felt that it would be good for people and good for the area if this show went ahead. It will provide somewhere for people to go and see animals this summer.

"The committee's decision was not unanimous, but a substantial majority were in favour of holding the event. And of course we will be putting mats down and making sure all the necessary precautions are in place.

"The last thing we want to be is responsible for an outbreak in the area. With the exception of the one at Rawdon, we've not been affected, touch wood."

Mrs Dickenson said that she had contacted MAFF and was told that it would be alright to have a dog show, it was just working dogs that presented a problem.

"We originally thought that we wouldn't be able to have dogs, which is what a couple of horse societies told

me, but MAFF have no problem

as long as we're not using working dogs.

"One of the other problems we faced was that if we had cancelled this year, we would have had a job to build the show up again for next year. That doesn't outweigh the foot and mouth concerns, but we would have faced a tough job."

She added that the farmer who owns the show field was in full support of holding the event.

To make up for the lack of livestock, the show organisers are looking at

introducing a variety of other

attractions, possibly such as majorettes. Mrs Dickenson is also hoping for a record number of trade stands and stalls.

Anyone interested in taking a stall or entering the show can contact Arthington Show office on (0113) 275 9335.