LONG regarded as the region's rural showcase, and still its biggest annual event, the 50th Three Counties Show at the Malvern Showground, represents British food and farming at its very best.

With agriculture firmly at its heart, the show celebrates every aspect of rural life, boasting the real cream of Britain's pedigree livestock, tasty regional produce, rural crafts, country pursuits, quality shopping and action-packed entertainment.

New for the 2007 event is a cheese and dairy produce show, with classes for all kinds of cheese and ice-cream, a learning village and a music village with live music ranging from country and jazz to African native.

Also new is a wool show, incorporating sheep breed societies, a fleece competition and spinning, weaving and knitting workshops.

Television gardener and award-winning designer Chris Beardshaw's Three Counties Garden, built for the Malvern Spring Garden show last week, will remain insitu for this event.

David The Bullet' Smith - the human cannonball man from USA - will literally be fired' through the air twice a day on each day of the Show, and England's rugby captain, Phil Vickery, The Raging Bull', will be at Malvern on Sunday June 17.

The Young Farmers Clubs will be out in force again for 2007, with a programme that promises to be fast-moving, action-packed and highly entertaining with classes for everything from sheep shearing, stock judging and poultry boning to aerobics, line-dancing and cake decorating.

Sharon Gilbert, press officer for the Three Counties Agricultural Society, said: "Making sure that visitors enjoy a great day out is a great priority, and other attractions include an inter-schools football tournament, Gloucester Rugby matches and the legends tribute concert with look-alike-sound-alike artists Freddie Mercury', Tom Jones', Kylie Minogue', Robbie William' and Elvis Presley'.

"There's also a regional cookery theatre, a flower show, horse logging, vintage vehicles, and a real ale and cider tent."

The Three Counties Show takes place from Friday June 15 - Sunday June 17.There are discounts for booking in advance (before 7 June), either via the web site: www.threecounties.co.uk or by calling 01684 584924.

For more in-depth stories on the Three Counties Show, see the next three editions of the Malvern Gazette.