Organisers of Thame Show are gearing up for a bumper year to celebrate its debut as the official Oxfordshire County Show, writes Ian Townsend.

Secretary Mike Howes said: "We have been going 130 years now and to be awarded county show status is a big feather in our caps.

"We are very proud of it and will do the title justice this year."

The former county show ceased to exist more than 20 years ago, leaving the Thame Show as the only agricultural show within Oxfordshire. Scheduled for the Thame and Oxfordshire County Show this year are the Household Cavalry's Musical Ride, 250 trade stands, the Oxfordshire Area international show-jumping trials, more than 750 horses in a variety of classes, 1,000 dogs, 150 cattle, plus sheep, donkeys, rabbits, caged birds and pigeons.

Local exhibitors flock to the horticultural and craft competitions.

In the main ring there will also be a parade of hounds, gun-dog and falconry displays, an agricultural pageant, a donkey parade and the driving concours d'elegance. The show, the biggest one-day agricultural show in the country, will be held on September 21 at the show ground in Kingsey Road.