No decision made yet on 2021 Melplash Show

Organisers of the Melplash Show will be holding meetings this week and it is hoped that a decision will be made soon as to when the event will be taking place.

Those behind the running of the event originally planned to make an announcement by the end of March, but have yet to come to a conclusion - with the rules in regards to mass gatherings during the summer remaining unclear.

The Melplash Show is one of the most-anticipated annual events in the area and before the coronavirus pandemic, routinely attracted as many as 20,000 visitors every year.

Like so many others, last year's event was cancelled due to restrictions surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

Melplash Agricultural Society has said it would be focusing on establishing what kind of event it can safely run. If it is to go ahead, the agricultural showcase show will take place at the West Bay Showground on Thursday, August 26.

The show is traditionally packed full of exhibits including livestock, horses, homecrafts and horticulture. There are usually more than 400 trade stands.

The Melplash Agricultural Society, the group behind the Melplash Show, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in February. During the meeting the organisation's president, James Vickery, said that the organisation was "committed" to putting on an event this year. He said that they were planning to review the situation in March, as it was "hoped that by then we will have a better understanding of what can safely be run in August".

Despite the loss of the annual Melplash Show, the society still worked hard on its charitable aims throughout 2020.

19 students, aged 17 and above and living within a 12-mile radius of Melplash, received a bursary from the society to study agriculture and related subjects. The society will be running this initiative again in 2021 with applications are set to open this month.

For more information on the initiatives, visit www.melplashshow.co.uk