OKEHAMPTON SHOW has been cancelled over fears that the event may cause a resurgence of foot and mouth disease in the area.

Following the recent outbreak of the disease at Bondleigh, Okehampton Show Committee has taken what it describes as the 'sensible' decision to cancel the event in August.

But the good news is that the First Aid Music Festival, which had also been scheduled for the Okehampton Showground on September 1/2, will now go-ahead in Simmons Park as a one-day event on August Bank Holiday.

Okehampton Show Committee and festival organisers were advised by the new Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) not to proceed with their plans because the Form A notices on the fields used for car parking would not be lifted in time. The fields were subject to a foot and mouth outbreak in March.

President of the show committee Jeffe Cunliffe said a decision had to be made now because it would be too late to stop the show in a few weeks' time.

'We would have been too far down the line and after taking advice from DEFRA and the NFU, who are the experts, we considered the best thing to do was to put it off until next year.

'We are looking at it more in a sensible way rather than a sentimental way.'

He said the outbreak at Bondleigh two weeks ago was 'a bit close for comfort'.

'We had people coming to the show from South Wales, Scotland and Yorkshire and with the foot and mouth situation as it is at the moment it is dangerous — we could be responsible for starting another epidemic.'

Group secretary of Okehampton and Hatherleigh NFU Simon

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Whattler, who is also a member of the show committee, said because most shows had been cancelled this year, there was a very large contingency of horse exhibitors planning to come to the event.

'With Okehampton being the centre of the foot and mouth outbreak in Devon and the new outbreak at Bondleigh it was too much to risk,' he said. 'Had the disease gone away by now there would be no problem.'

Mr Whattler said that with a Form A premises, any car going in and out would have to be licensed to do so and be disinfected.

He said he was very worried by the outbreak in sheep at Bondleigh because despite bi-weekly visits by vets after the premises was catagorised as a dangerous contact farm in March and the owner being a very good farmer, the disease had been hiding in the animals.

'The disease only showed up in a blood test which means that it could be hiding anywhere,' he said. 'Until all the blood tests come back we do not know where it could crop up.'

Meanwhile organisers of the First Aid Music Festival are preparing for a 'Music Day' in Simmons Park on August 27.

Co-ordinator Susanne Watt said she was currently in the process of liaising with all the organisations and authorities involved but the indications were there would be no problems using the park on the Bank Holiday Monday.

'The pleasure grounds will be closed off for the day but all the other areas like the swimming pool, tennis courts, bowling green and putting green, will be open to the public ' she said.

The programme for the day will include children's entertainment in the morning, tribute bands in the afternoon and a classical evening of entertainment in the style of 'The Last Night of the Proms' with the world-renowned 75-piece English Symphony Orchestra. The day will culminate in a magical fireworks display to the theme from Star Wars.

Despite all the hiccoughs which have dogged the festival, originally scheduled for May Bank Holiday weekend to provide a much needed boost for the area devastated by foot and mouth disease, Mrs Watt said she was determined to see it through.

'This music day will make up for the disappointment of the May Bank Holiday weekend,' she said. 'Hopefully it will encourage visitors to stop for the weekend and town businesses will benefit by staying open on that day.'

The event won a grant of £5,000 from the Barclays Regeneration Fund and has financial backing from the South West Regional Development Agency. Anyone who wants to pledge money to help the event should call Susanne on 01837 52331.

See next week's Okehampton Times for more details on the First Aid Music Day.