Great Yorkshire Show cancelled after one day

The Great Yorkshire Show has been cancelled after just one day because heavy rain has left the car parks too muddy.

Show director Bill Cowling said it was the first time the show had been cancelled due to weather in 154 years.

He said: "Reluctantly the show will finish tonight. The decision has not been taken lightly."

Advance tickets will be refunded and no-one should attempt to go to the Harrogate showground, Mr Cowling said.

The decision was taken because the ground in the car parks was "not suitable".

The ground was "not suitable" said Mr Cowling.

'Devastated'

Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS) had reduced car parking spaces after some areas became waterlogged.

YAS chief executive Nigel Pulling said he was "devastated not to have as many people" on the first day in Harrogate.

Last year more than 135,000 visitors attended the three-day show.

People were told not to drive to the first day of the show and to use the Plumpton Bar park-and-ride.

The Army's Red Devils parachute team performance on Tuesday was cancelled.

Despite the problems, dairy farmers said they still planned to lobby the minister for agriculture, Jim Paice, about cuts in the price of milk when he visited the showground.

Farmers said they could lose tens of thousands of pounds a year because they are being paid less for their produce.