BUDDING fashion designers have been given a chance to show off their designs on the catwalk at the region's top agricultural event, the Great Yorkshire Show.

Models from the Louise Morton Model Agency will be stepping out in garments created by students from the newly-formed School of Textiles and Design at Leeds University at four daily fashion shows during the event.

The clothes will be modelled in the new Fashion and Art Pavilion at the 250-acre showground on the edge of Harrogate.

The university is making its debut at the show. The students, from all over the Yorkshire region, are fresh from their successful outing at this month's Prince's Trust Graduate Fashion Week, held in London's Battersea Arena, which has in the past launched the careers of some of the fashion world's brightest stars.

The designs will be seen alongside fashions from the Marks and Spencer autumn collection.

The show runs from July 9 to 11 and the organiser, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, has pulled put all the stops to make it one of the biggest yet.

Last year, it had to be cancelled because of the foot-and-mouth crisis, but this time the animal pens will again be full of live-stock.

Almost 1,000 sheep, nearly 600 cattle and hundreds of pigs and goats will be there, in addition to 1,600 horses and ponies.

One of the highlights of the show will be the cattle paraded on the last two days of the show when prize-winners are showcased in the main arena.

The show is believed to be the only one in the Yorkshire region featuring the full range of livestock this year.

However, strict biosecurity measures will be in place.