Great Dorset Steam Fair: 'Wellies needed' despite new roads

Organisers were granted planning permission earlier this month to make the changes in time for September's show

The construction of new roads on the Great Dorset Steam Fair (GDSF) site "will not resolve all wet weather issues", the event director has said.

Martin Oliver made the comments on Facebook in response to messages posted by members of the public.

More than 3,000m (9,800ft) of new roads at the Tarrant Hinton site aim to address key access and vehicle movement "problem areas", he said.

He added they were "not a reason to leave your wellies at home".

The new measures come after adverse weather affected the showground last year.

In response to the move on the festival's Facebook page, Steven Warr had said: "That will [make] life easier now instead of pushing cars out the mud."

Tony Dearlove also commented: "Great news. I had the tyres done on my car last week and found mud under there from last year lol so hopefully no more mud."

Tractors were used to help people access the site, near Blandford, in 2014

In a statement, Mr Oliver said: "The new roads this year...will help us enormously but we have to be mindful that any event held on large areas of agricultural land will experience difficulties in wet weather, even with a network of hard roads in place.

"Therefore, The need for appropriate footwear and clothing remains."

Organisers eventually hope to build a 5,000m (16,400ft) permanent internal road system over three years, which is subject to further planning permission.

The event, in its 46th year, regularly attracts up to 200,000 visitors.

Steam road locomotives are the main attraction but the event also features other vintage vehicles