WITH uncertain weather forecast for the foreseeable future, the organisers of the weekend’s Three Counties Show are taking no chances.

Hundreds of tons of straw are on standby on the Malvern showground in case mopping-up operations are needed.

“We have had a permanent showsite here since 1958 and over more than half a century have developed an excellent network of tarmaced roads and hard standing areas,” said show press and PR manager Sharon Gilbert.

“We have long experience of dealing with the English weather and many of our main areas are under cover anyway.

“We would advise visitors to dress suitably for the weather with sturdy footwear and clothing, but there is plenty of shelter on site.

“The awful weather has certainly not been ideal for the build-up to Three Counties, but the sun last weekend has given the ground a break from the wet, and at the moment, conditions are good.

“The estate and livestock teams and the contractors are working hard to make sure that all areas are in an optimum state ready for the opening day, and all is on schedule.

“We have also identified potential problem areas and dealt with them in anticipation.”

The town-meets-country event is being held from Friday to Sunday and usually attracts crowds of about 100,000.

For the first time in its 214-year history, it will be staging a ladies day, when posh frocks and pretty hats will hopefully be the order of the day.

This will be on Friday and Ms Gilbert said: “As it’s the Diamond Jubilee this year, and the Queen’s official birthday on June 16, we thought it would be nice to encourage more of our female visitors to make a real effort in the fashion stakes, to bring a little bit of Royal Ascot and the Chelsea Flower Show to Malvern.”

The 2012 Three Counties already has record livestock and equestrian entries and there is due to be a packed programme of main arena attractions led by the White Helmets Motorcycle Display Team and the Devil’s Horsemen, who perform an exhilarating Wild West Show.

Other attractions include gundogs, falconry, ferrets and owls, fishing, threshing, stick making and dog agility.

There will be about 600 trade stands, selling everything from crafts and plants to fine antiques

• HEREFORD and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) will once again be showcasing their skills at the Three Counties Show.

Fire crews from Malvern will be joined on the emergency services stand by representatives from the police, ambulance service and the safer roads partnership, as well as community safety, USAR (Urban Search and Rescue), community risk and the young firefighters association.