Wolverhampton’s City Show will go ahead as planned this weekend, despite the city’s premier park suffering the effects of the recent torrential rain.

Organisers are pulling out all the stops to ensure the annual extravaganza is a success, whatever the weather, for the expected 70,000 visitors set to flock to West Park.

The German folk festival held nearly three weeks ago amid the recent storms left the beauty spot resembling a mudbath.

Grounds maintenance staff have since been working around the clock all week to prepare the land for the next stampede of visitors to ensure the show is not a wash-out.

Organisers are already on site and marquees are being erected. The fairground is also being set up.

Jacki Wynn, the council’s outdoor events assistant, said today everyone involved in the show was keeping their fingers crossed the sun would make an appearance.

But she added: “We are very prepared to cope with whatever happens.”

The event begins at 11.30am on Saturday and Sunday. A taste of rural life will be brought to the park with sheep, piglets and chickens.

Celebrity farmer Johnny Ball will entertain the crowds at the NFU Food and Farming Roadshow.

Monster trucks, a horse display team, the RSPB, a parachute display team, motorbikes and other attractions will also be at the spectacular.

A Continental market, which will start in Dudley Street in the city centre tomorrow, will move to West Park for the weekend.

Sellers from France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Poland, Spain and the UK will be part of a 20-strong group of traders.

Fruit, bread, Bavarian sausages and Spanish paella are expected to prove a hit with visitors.

On Friday the market will run from 9am to 5.30pm.