TRADITIONAL fairground attractions and plenty of horsing around in the Oxfordshire countryside will be on the cards at a special event next week.

People in the Thame area were aghast earlier this year at the announcement that the year Oxfordshire County & Thame Show would be cancelled for financial reasons.

But two friends have stepped up to organise a replacement.

The Thame Horse & Country Show, to take place on the traditional date and bringing all the fun of the fair as usual.

Co-organiser Karoline Thorpe, from Postcombe, said: "It's traditional to have a show on the third Thursday of September as it goes hand in hand with the Street Fair.

"We decided we were going to carry on the tradition; it's pretty much exactly the same as it used to be and we have got an awful lot going on."

From 8am to 6pm on Thursday, people from all over the county are invited to take part in the fun and games at Thame Showground.

A full-scale horse show will take place along with top-class showjumping and a donkey show.

Pet pooches are also invited to enter a kennel club open dog show and a 'Scruffts' contest, a crossbreeds' qualifying round for Crufts, with a dog agility display ring.

Visitors can also peruse a sheep show, displays of alpacas and cattle, a parade of hounds from local hunts, birds of prey and terrier racing all day.

Ms Thorpe said: "Behind the scenes, it's taken us the last eight months to organise. We would like to think we will have about 6,000 in attendance.

"Entrance to the show is totally free. The more that would like to come along the better; the dog show has already taken in more than 350 dogs."

Those of a less animal-loving disposition will also find plenty to do, with classic cars and vast quantities of agricultural machinery worth more than £1m on display.

A farmers' market featuring food and drink from local traders will also be running to tantalise the taste buds of those who come along.

The original Thame Show started as a ploughing match more than 130 plus years ago, with the 2016 event due to take place later this month.

But hopes were initially dashed after the directors of the Thame & Oxfordshire County Agricultural Association announced its cancellation.

In a statement, the association said: "The decision follows a number of years of financial losses. Although every effort has been made to control costs it has become apparent that the public attendance on show day is very weather-dependant and cannot be guaranteed or relied upon.

"In order to protect the assets of the Association we will concentrate on letting the showground out to other event organisers for the time being."

For more information on the Thame Horse & Country Show visit thamehorsecountrys.wixsite.com/home