GARDENERS, animal lovers, cookery buffs and shopaholics will be able to savour the true taste of autumn at the ninth Autumn Garden and County Show on the Three Counties Showground.

The show, on Saturday and Sunday, September 27 and 28, may be the youngest of the TCAS's four main events, but the annual Michaelmas pageant, celebrating British country life and produce, is fast becoming a real contender in the quality stakes.

Show manager Carol Ritchie said: "The show is one of the most popular events and visitor research tells us that we have the mix of attractions just right. For gardeners, of course, it's the last chance of the season to view the spectacular Royal Horticultural Society Flower Show.

"But the event is deliberately diverse and boasts everything from native livestock and rural activities to regional cuisine, locally-made crafts and family entertainment."

Aside from the 5000 square metres of flowers from across the globe, six permanent gardens on site, exquisite floral art, the National Vegetable Society Midlands Championships will be staged at the show, and there are also Open Gardening competitions in the Harvest Pavilion which houses what is one of Britain's largest amateur gatherings.

Other highlights include a Musical Ride, heavy horses, parade of animals, gundogs, ferrets, falcons, rabbits and poultry, together with vintage vehicles and displays from mountain bike stuntman, Jez Avery, shepherdess Elaine Hill, the Junior Firefighters and the Army Cadets, toy fair and funfair, alongside 500 tradestands.