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The scene at 2007's show.

IT'S less than 1,000 metres long and is still being built, but it could put the New Forest Show on the road to success.

With less than two weeks to go before this year's event, officials have unveiled the latest allweather facility at the 38-acre showground at New Park, Brockenhurst.

A new access road will prevent visitors having to drive across the wettest part of the site to reach the five public car parks.

Officials are hoping it will overcome one of the biggest problems experienced last year, when the show was almost ruined by the wettest July on record.

A large number of cars trying to leave the showground got stuck in the mud and had to be pushed out of the quagmire.

The 980-metre road is due to be finished next Friday, just four days before the show begins on July 29.

Chief executive Richard Cuzens said it would improve the flow of traffic as well as enabling drivers to bypass a low-lying area that often became boggy in wet weather.

"If we get inclement weather again this year, the road will prove itself on day one," he said.

"It was a long, hard fight to get planning permission but it's something we desperately need and intend to make full use of."

The road was unveiled yesterday at a special preview of the three-day show, expected to attract almost 100,000 visitors from across the south.

The show last year was hit by more than 30 hours of torrential rain, forcing organisers to curtail some of the arena events on safety grounds.

Only 68,500 people braved the conditions, a 30 per cent drop on the usual number, and last November it was announced that the event had made record losses of more than £200,000.

Mr Cuzens praised everyone who had taken part in the "monumental task" of restoring the site and promised: "It's going to be a great show."

Highlights will include a spectacular aerial display by Christian Moullec, whose microlight aircraft will lead a flock of wild geese in formation over New Park.

Other attractions will include international showjumping, the Shetland Pony Grand National and a return visit by the David Beckham Academy, which provides coaching skills for young footballers who want to emulate their hero.

Classic cars on show will include a red Triumph Roadster similar to the one driven by John Nettles in the TV show Bergerac.

The packed programme will also feature a major art exhibition and a national competition to find the best trainee furniture maker in the UK.

A show spokesman described the annual spectacle as the highlight of Hampshire's social calendar.

She added: "This is the Year of Food and Farming. Local produce will be on show in the Hampshire and New Forest Food Experience, plus the Food from Field and Forest and the Commoners' Drift marquees."

For a brief guide to some of the show's highlights , visit the News Briefing section.

6:57am Sunday 20th July 2008

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