Rain cancels show after 254 years
The show had received over 1,000 entries for livestock, sheep and dogs
Organisers of a popular agricultural show have been forced to cancel it for the first time in 254 years because of the weather.
The one-day Brecon County Show, which attracts around 10,000 people each year, was due to be staged on Saturday.
But after days of wet weather, and more rain forecast, it has been cancelled over concerns of waterlogged fields and possible traffic problems.
The show society's secretary said it would lose up to £30,000.
"The marquees are all up, we've taken over 1,00 entries for livestock, dogs, sheep... everything was in place and ready to go," Barbara Green said.
"But we had a crisis meeting today after hearing the weather forecast and unfortunately after so much rain and more to come - including on the day itself - there's nothing we can do but cancel.
"We are very, very disappointed and it was a very hard decision to make as we have been planning it for the last year or so. But everyone's been very understanding and we aim to be back next year."
Prince of Wales
She said the society took a variety of factors into consideration before calling off the show, which claims to be the oldest in the UK and has the Prince of Wales as a patron.
The show, held in Brecon's showground, was mainly made up of fields and had few footpaths, Ms Green said, so the ground was likely to become very muddy.
There was also the likelihood that many visitors would not attend and that some competitors would not turn up.
The show's society feared it would end up having to pay more to tow away vehicles that became stuck in the fields, she said.
"This is the first time in the show's 254-year history that it's been cancelled because of the weather," Ms Green added.
"It was called off once before in 2001 because of the foot-and-mouth disease restrictions. But the show went ahead fine the following year so we hope that will be the case this time."
The Cwmtawe 7s, one of the leading rugby sevens in Wales, has also been cancelled because of the weather. The tournament would have begun in Pontardawe, Swansea Valley, this Saturday.
