‘Don’t let disease fears scupper shows’

Fears over bluetongue must not be allowed to ruin the agricultural show season, insists property auctioneer Melfyn Williams.

Mr Williams, director of Anglesey-based estate agents the Property People, has been appointed 2008 president of the Trefor Agricultural Society.

He said it's business as usual this summer for Trefor Show, Caernarfon, despite concerns over the spread of bluetongue.

The Royal Welsh Show is taking entries from livestock exhibitors as usual.

And the Trefor Show secretary Mrs JE Roberts is keen to do likewise.

Mr Williams, who with dad John (Huw Bugail) breeds North Country Cheviot and pedigree Welsh mountain sheep at Penygroes, Brynsiencyn, said the show wanted to maintain the momentum of recent years.

Several agricultural events in Gwynedd folded in the wake of the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak but Trefor's show had survived and thrived.

He added: "Whilst farming continues to battle with red tape and fears over foot-and-mouth and bluetongue, it is imperative we support these events to maintain them as an important event in our social calendar.