Organisers of a show popular with visitors and exhibitors from Oxfordshire are promising an entertainment-packed event - despite the absence of livestock entries because of the foot and mouth crisis.

In past years, Oxfordshire farmers and breeders have been among the prizewinners in cattle, sheep and other livestock classes at the annual two-day Newbury Show.

For the first time in the history of the event, which has only ever been cancelled during the two world wars, there will be no livestock,

Newbury and District Agricultural Society has had to come up with alternative main attractions after cloven-hoofed livestock were banned because of the risk of spreading the highly-infectious disease.

Show chairman Peter Alder said the event - now billed as Newbury and Royal County of Berkshire Show - would nevertheless keep its agricultural theme at the heart of a full programme.

This year's show which will again be held just across the south Oxfordshire border at Chieveley will take place on Saturday and Sunday, September 15 and 16.

Mr Alder said: "We are disappointed not to have livestock. But the rich and diverse attractions at this year's show will make it an event that emphasises the very best of rural life."

Because so many shows hade fallen victim to the foot and mouth epidemic, Mr Alder said there had been an unprecedented interest from exhibitors.

It will include the Berkshire Federation of Young Farmers' country fair, which was cancelled in May because of the foot and mouth restrictions.

Among the arena attractions will be a motocross display team and an Army freefall parachute display team.