THE hugely popular Three Counties Show opens its annual three day run at Malvern this Friday and there's considerable delight that the Jersey cow, the second most popular breed in the world, is making a return after an absence of six years.

On top of this livestock entries are up across the board. Also pig entries are showing a good increase on last year, and the equestrian entries are up by six per cent on 2005.

Sunday is Rare Breeds Day and celebrated poet and author, Pam Ayres - a rare breeds keeper herself - will be at the show this year.

Other famous faces include top trainer, Jenny Pitman, who will be judging the Racehorse to Riding section in the equestrian competitions on Sunday, and celebrity chef and Strictly Come Dancing star, James Martin, who will be cooking in the Regional Cookery Theatre.

Once again the show will feature many of its regular events - a full equestrian programme, grass track racing, a regional cookery theatre, a countryside activity arena and numerous trade stands. There'll also be a cider competition.

The show closes on Sunday.