A BUMPER attendance is being forecast for Harrogate's Spring Flower Show, which starts today at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

The event, which runs until Sunday, attracted a record attendance of 59,600 last year, and officials from the North of England Horticultural Society are expecting a similar number.

Show director Roger Brownbridge said: "Advance ticket sales are almost identical to last year, and that is always a good guide to attendance numbers."

With more than 70 per cent of the event under cover and most of the showground walkways on hard-standing, not even bad weather has had a big effect on growing attendance figures.

Society chairman Sam Cryer, who will greet Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to the show tomorrow for his first visit, said: "In the past year, we have invested £30,000 in providing extra roadways for the car parks, which avoids churned up areas so people can reach a parking spot easily."

Organisers said the event, which traditionally lifts the curtain on the national show season, is of as much interest to people with window boxes as those with large gardens.

More than 100 of the country's best horticultural nurseries will attend the show.

Marquees will host flower arranging, daffodil and tulip shows, arts and crafts and regional foods.

The show opens at 9.30am each day and closes at 5.30pm, apart from Sunday, when it shuts at 4.30pm.

There is parking for more than 4,000 cars.