COUNTY show organisers hope the event will continue its recent revival this weekend.

The Herrington Country Park site, near Sunderland, is prepared for tens of thousands of visitors to the Durham County Show tomorrow and Sunday.

Organisers from the Dur-ham Agricultural Society are hoping that the recent rainy weather has ended, which will boost numbers.

This year's event is the third to be staged at the country park, on 490-acres of restored former colliery land, in the shadow of Penshaw Monument, off the A183 Chester-le-Street to Sunderland road.

Show secretary Christine Duke said she hoped crowds would match the 50,000-plus who visited last year.

She said: "We've got plenty of marshalls who will be on duty helping to keep things moving, but from time to time it may get busy."

Following the move from Lambton Park, at Bournmoor, its home of 50 years, in 1999, the show switched to Washington Northern Area playing fields the following year.

It was cancelled due to the foot-and-mouth outbreak, in 2001, and transferred to its new permanent home at the country park in 2002.

Mrs Duke said: "Everything is now in place to make this year's show an even bigger success. We have a full programme of activities, including music, countryside and agricultural displays, plus arena attractions such as the Devil's Horsemen Cossack display team."

There will be traditional livestock and produce contests, plus a fun dog show, tomorrow, with entries accepted until 11.15am, and judging at noon. The fur and feather section is on Sunday.

Gates open at 9am, with the show running to 5pm on both days. Admission is £3 for adults and £1 for children.