County show's a £250k spectacular

This year's Staffordshire County Show is being billed as a quarter of a million pound spectacular.

The County Showground, on the outskirts of Stafford, is set to host more than 70,000 visitors over two days later this month.

A packed timetable of entertainment has been set up in the main arena with the Flying Gunners motorcycle display team tackling a programme of high-speed dare-devil stunts. A brand new feature will be the Monster Trucks, featuring Big Peter and the Grim Reaper doing demolition runs.

Other main arena events include parades of livestock, hounds and beagles and vintage machinery, and a young farmers' tug of war competition.

More than 1,000 horses and ponies will be taking part in equestrian events, being judged in four separate rings over the two days and there will be a Show Jumping competitions in the main arena on both days.

A Country Pursuits arena will feature the internationally famous Welsh Axemen, fly casting demonstrations, falconry, ferret roadshow and the Quack Pack, sheepdog and duck display.

Over the two days an Open Dog Show is expected to attract more than 1,000 entries competing in the 250 breed classes.

The show, which will feature a host of other spectacles is at the showground on the Weston Road on Wednesday May 28 and Thursday May 29, opening each day at 8am, although some judging may start earlier.

Tickets for the show are already on sale and advance tickets could save as much as £6 on a family ticket.

A ticket hotline has been set up on 0800 298 0498.