ORGANISERS of agricultural shows in North Yorkshire are on a knife-edge, awaiting new directions on conditions for livestock being exhibited.

Simon Midcalf, secretary and treasurer of the Yorkshire Federation of Show Societies, said that, after all last year's farming and livestock shows were called off because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak, show societies were anxious to have successful events this year.

But movement restrictions were still in place and they could affect farmers taking part, he said.

Mr Midcalf added that show officials were waiting for licence conditions from Defra and it was understood that a bio-diversification officer would be allocated to each show where there were livestock classes. "There will be stringent conditions on disposing of animal waste to prevent any recurrence of the disease," he said.

The federation is hoping to have full details of any restrictions by the time it holds its annual meeting in the next few weeks.

One of the biggest issues on the Defra regulations is the holding of a show which is not on a hard surface, owing to the difficulties of disinfecting grass.

Most shows - some of which date back over a century - had been hard hit financially last year because the majority had relatively small amounts of reserves and early printing had already been carried out when the foot-and-mouth outbreak began.

Mr Midcalf said Defra had said it would review the situation in May, by which time some early shows would already have been held and most others would be well advanced with their plans.