MALVERN'S Three Counties Show is to have a change of name after 80 years.

From 2002 it will be known as the Three Counties Countryside Show - a small, but significant, shift in emphasis as its parent body, the Three Counties Agricultural Society, battles to overcome losses of more than £100,000 caused by this year's foot-and-mouth crisis.

The TCAS will not know until late January at the earliest whether livestock classes will be allowed at the 2002 event, to be held from June 14-16, and a broadening of the show's appeal is already on the cards.

Lessons will have been learnt from this summer's show, belatedly staged in August, which went ahead without livestock, but with an innovative range of new attractions, including a two-hour pop concert in the main arena at the end of each day.

But the TCAS is keen to stress the event will retain agriculture and the countryside at its heart, providing farmers and others working in land-based industry with both a reliable source of information and advice and a much-needed venue where they can meet up and socialise.

"Naturally we're hoping to hold livestock competitions at the 2002 show, but we have to await DEFRA's granting of a licence for the showground and the indications are this will not be forthcoming until late January at the earliest," said chief executive Chris Milne.

"In the meantime we have to go ahead with the rest of our plans."

Mr Milne said, whatever happens, next summer's event will have a strong farming focus with a new farmers' business centre featuring a wide range of displays and speakers.

The Three Counties Show has its roots in the Herefordshire Agricultural Society event, which was first held in Broad Street, Hereford in 1798.