THOUSANDS of people are expected to attend this year s Countess of Warwick s Country Show in Little Easton on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday, August 26 and 27. The 18th Countess of Warwick s Country Show takes place in the church, manor gardens, Barn Thea

THOUSANDS of people are expected to attend this year's Countess of Warwick's Country Show in Little Easton on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday, August 26 and 27.

The 18th Countess of Warwick's Country Show takes place in the church, manor gardens, Barn Theatre, rectory grounds and surrounding fields.

Grounds will be open from noon, with the show being officially opened by the Rev Canon Gillian Greenslade.

At the heart of the event is the horticultural show. Classes this year include locally grown vegetables, fruit and flowers; handicrafts and photographs; homemade cakes and pastries, and classes for children.

Rosettes, certificates, cups and trophies will be presented on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon, followed by an auction of produce.

Other attractions include an art exhibition with pictures for sale in the church; a display by the Dunmow & District Dog Training Club; an equestrian display; Peter Jackson and family will have their shire horses on show, fresh from their success after winning best of show at the The Royal Show in Warwickshire; and a tug-of-war will be held over the weekend.

A vintage and classic car display sponsored by P & A Wood, Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialists in Great Easton will be a major feature on Sunday as will be Monday's Austin 7 Car and Morgan Car Clubs' display on the Manor lawn.

Making a return by popular demand is the show's mini beer festival with a selection of real ales brewed by the Saffron Brewery of Henham, including a new ale brewed especially for the show called Tiddly Vicar.

A grand draw will be held and the first prize is £750. Other prizes include £100, vouchers from The Starr Restaurant in Dunmow, The Green Man in Great Easton and The Whitehall Country House Hotel and Restaurant in Broxted, Sweetlands Butchers and Stokes Butchers in Dunmow; and champagne has been donated by The Guildhall Stores in Thaxted.

Last year's show raised nearly £17,000, a record amount for the event. Each of the four churches in the Five Parishes received a share of £4000, an increase of £500 for each church compared with 2005.

Parking for the event is free of charge and proceeds of the show go to the four operational churches in the Five Parishes: Broxted with Chickney, Tilty, Great Easton and Little Easton.

Further information is available by calling 01371 872894 or via www.fiveparishes.co.uk