THE ORGANISERS of BBC Countryfile Live spent today transforming the picturesque grounds of Blenheim Palace ahead of the four-day festival.

More than 120,000 people are expected through the doors for an event that markets itself as ‘the biggest country fair in the world’.

The stars of the BBC show will attend, along with more than 500 independent retailers and lifestyle brands.

Revellers will not be short of entertainment, with more than 30 stages showcasing a variety of events, ranging from family fishing in the River Glyme to the dog lovers’ arena.

Oxford Mail:

A musical stage makes its first appearance, headlined by the UK’s biggest-selling country act The Shires, acoustic guitar artist Newton Faulkner and country folk duo Ferris & Sylvester.

The event returns to Blenheim for a third consecutive year and organisers appear to have solved the traffic problems that dogged the 2016 edition.

But with Wilderness Festival being held this weekend at nearby Cornbury Park, there are fears of congestion in the area.

Deputy event director Oliver Rostron said: “We have been working closely with the local authorities, Thames Valley Police, Blenheim Palace and Highways England to build on our traffic management plan.

“We share the same traffic management team with Wilderness Festival and work together really well and don’t expect much congestion."

Great Western Railway has launched a new ticket for the event, which will allow customers travelling by train to Oxford station to use either the 500, 7 or S3 bus services to Blenheim on the same ticket.

Customers wishing to travel from Oxford itself can buy a bus ticket and entry to the palace from GWR.

Opening times are 9.30am to 6.30pm from Thursday to Saturday, while on Sunday the event closes an hour earlier.

See The Guide for more Countryfile information.