OKEHAMPTON Show is back on August 8 — but organisers are 'playing safe' and not allowing any livestock to take part this year.

Indications that breeders outside the area are not likely to attend, and stringent rules and regulations have resulted in the show committee's decision to ban cattle, sheep and pigs from taking part.

Instead, there will be a big promotion tent with displays by different breed societies, a large equestrian section, extra entertainment and lots more trade stands.

The committee is also working on making local food a big theme, after its success at the Devon County Show last year.

But for a show which in 2000 could boast the largest number of cattle and sheep entries for any one-day event in the West Country, the absence of livestock has been greeted with disappointment by the farming community.

Chairman of the sheep section David Heard said some people may think the committee was erring too much on the side of caution, but as far as he was concerned it was the right decision to make this year.

'Two years without a livestock show is disappointing, but we will be back bigger and better next time,' he said.

'The important thing is that the Okehampton Show is going ahead this year and, although it will be slightly different, it will still be a great day out.'

Mr Heard said because the Okehampton area was the second worst hit by foot and mouth disease in the country, sheep breeders who normally exhibited animals from out of the county had indicated they did not want to come into Devon.

'There has been a lot of scaremongering going on and when it comes down to it, it was pretty much impractical to go ahead with livestock,' he said.

'Biosecurity rules have been relaxed slightly for one-day shows, but we would still have to have vets on all gates, any bedding put down would have to be lifted and taken home with individual breeders and anyone who had anything to do with the animals would have to sign a form and wear special clothing.'

He added that a licence would still have to be applied for and if something happened on the day, such as a dirty lorry getting in, the licence could be pulled there and then.

'I think farmers will understand that we just cannot take the risk,' he said. 'Our feeling is that in another year everything will have cooled down and we can have a bumper show in 2003.'

Show secretary Gilly Oliver said the Royal Horse Artillery Gun Carriages were interested in taking part but she was currently awaiting confirmation on this.

'The equestrian section will definitely be the main focus of the show but in lieu of livestock all the breed societies are being asked to run a stand so it will be like a big promotion,' she said.

'There will be a full programme of entertainment and we are hoping to have in excess of 200 trade stands,

'There is so much in the pipeline and plenty to interest the farming community.'

Regular exhibitor at Okehampton Show Dudley Luxton said he was very sad there would be no livestock at the event and he felt the committee was being 'over cautious'.

He said it was not the breeders outside the area, but the local farmers about whom the committee should be concerned .

'We have had a terrible 12 months and Okehampton Show is such an important event in the farming calendar,' he said.

'An agricultural show is all about the animals and whilst I understand a question mark hanging over sheep, I don't see a problem with including local cattle.'

He said farmers would still support the show but it would not be the same without the livestock.