The decision was made by the Board of Management of the show committee after closely monitoring the government guidance over past months.

Chairman of the Dorset County Show, Rebecca Hill, said, “It is with a heavy heart that the Board of Management has decided to cancel the Dorset County Show, which was due to take place this year on 5 and 6 September. This decision was incredibly difficult to make, however first and foremost, we must put the safety and welfare of our visitors, members, volunteers, exhibitors, staff, and traders above all else. We feel it is impossible to hold a show of the same quality and standard that members of our community know and love, with social distancing measures in place as they should be.

“We recognise how disappointing this news will be to many, but we would like to take this opportunity to thank all key workers who continue to work incredibly hard to help us tackle COVID-19. We must help them as much as we can, ensuring we are not causing even more of a strain on all services.

“We would like to thank everyone for their support over the years and throughout this difficult time, as well as all of those involved in the hard work that has gone into planning for this year. Preparations are now in place for our 2021 Show, and we will look forward to welcoming everyone then.”

In its 180th year, the Dorset County Show is a well-established annual fixture in the county calendar for both the agricultural industry and local community, typically seeing around 60,000 visitors over the two-day event.

The 2021 Dorset County Show will be held on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 September 2021.  www.dorsetcountyshow.co.uk.