A NEW home has been found for an agricultural show which has been left without a permanent site in recent years.

Organisers of the Durham County Show have announced that a reclaimed colliery site in the shadow of the Penshaw Monument will provide the setting for this year's event.

It is hoped the 370-acre Herrington Country Park, on Wearside, will prove a suitable venue for the annual event, which dates from 1841.

The show, staged by Durham County Agricultural Society, was held at Lambton Park, near Chester-le-Street, for 47 years up to 1999.

But early in 2000, Lambton Estates informed the society that the showground would no longer be available because there were other plans for it.

Sunderland City Council stepped in at short notice and offered the society use of the Northern Area Playing Fields, in Washington, for the show in July 2000.

The site would also have provided the setting for last year's event, which had to be cancelled because of foot-and-mouth restrictions.

Now the recently completed multi-million pound reclamation scheme on the former Herrington Colliery site has provided what the society hopes will become the regular show setting.

This year's show, on the weekend of July 13 and 14, will mark the official opening of the country park.

Show secretary Christine Duke said: "There is something for everybody, from trade stands to the shows, from the horses and ponies to the dogs, cats and other pets being displayed in competition."

Any volunteers willing to help out over the show weekend can contact the society at PO Box 58, Chester-le-Street, DH3 3GB.