Bluetongue restrictions' impact on show planning

Restrictions to prevent the spread of Bluetongue came into force this month

Bluetongue restrictions will have an impact on the planning of an agricultural show, the event's chairman has said.

Rules introduced this month to prevent the spread of the potentially fatal livestock disease mean that cattle, sheep and goats need to test negative before they can be transported across the border from England to Wales.

David Kempster from Shropshire's Oswestry Show said it meant Welsh farmers were not willing to exhibit, because they would have to pay for their animals to be tested when they returned home.

He said it was "not ideal", but hoped to attract more English farmers to take their place this year.

The restrictions were introduced by the UK government to prevent Bluetongue from spreading from England to Wales.

Every animal which crosses the border into Wales has to be tested at a cost of up to £70 each and Mr Kempster said he recognised it was a "huge expense".

He said he knew of many "very loyal supporters" of the show from the Welsh side of the border who had chosen not to attend this year.

They included Helen Roberts, who farms nearby.

She said her family had been "big supporters" of the show and had been bringing animals for more than three decades, but could not afford to visit under the current restrictions.

"It will be very disappointing that we can't go there and compete," she said.

Mr Kempster said: "It's not ideal for the show at all but we've got to live with it and we've got to do our best."

He said his committee had been "working very hard to attract competitors from the English side of the border" and he thought that would include some English farmers who had chosen not to visit Welsh shows this year.

The show is due to take place on 2 August and he said it would be "100% going ahead as normal", with preparations at the showground starting on Tuesday.

But he added: "I think the whole farming community needs this one to be sorted out, we can't carry on with this situation."